Hastings Police

[Watcher]

Well Olly this man is a politician and was a public servant,but Hastings Police are protecting him. His appearance in last weeks edition of the Herald proved that by his own admission he lied to the paper He also mislead the Shepway electors by still claiming to be a PCSO. The conservatives of Shepway are looking after their own. Hastings police want no bad publicity.

[Olly]

[quoted]
watcher wrote:
Well Olly this man is a politician and was a public servant,but Hastings Police are protecting him. His appearance in last weeks edition of the Herald proved that by his own admission he lied to the paper He also mislead the Shepway electors by still claiming to be a PCSO. The conservatives of Shepway are looking after their own. Hastings police want no bad publicity.
[/quoted]

I despair at the so-called 'police service' nationwide to be honest watcher - there's so obviously a rampant 'institutionalised stupidity' endemic in each and every one of them! I think it's because our poor knackered country has become bureaucratised, and we all know how feebleminded and incompetent bureaucrats (and politicians!! ) are, don't we: so I guess it's consistent with the general social climate. I mean what about this?

http://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2014 ... dow-payout

Nice work if you can get it, or what!! I don't know whether to laugh or cry! Like living in a bloody madhouse init?

[Watcher]

Cant believe that no one has any info on the PCSOs, or does no one care

[Gerry Glyde]

As I wrote in a previous post an FOI request if refused, can be appealed to the Info commissioner. If Watcher made the first application then appeal the decision. I used the Info Com in a matter of my own and found them very helpful and told the organisation to reply and to provide a written grounds for failure to disclose.

If you want to know some answers get on to it rather than just posting a message on this site. If the councillor did something wrong in his office as a councillor then that is also a matter that his electors may take up with either the public auditor or Local Government Ombudsman. In my work situation I have been involved with many Ombudsman Complaints. (not sure which) Legal systems are not fool proof but should still be used if available = and yes it may take a long time (Bloody Sunday, Birmingham Six, Lawrence). but use what is there for you to do.

As for the Guardian story, that is a very odd case but it was decided (probably by a full panel) headed by an Employment Judge and two independent wing people normally drawn one each from an employer background and one from an employee background. The Officer used the legal system and in this instance won.

[Olly]

Don't waste your time down the FOI road watcher. Some years ago, in a contretemps with the council, I initiated a complaint with the governing body (the Local Government Ombudsman), and despite the indisputable evidence with which I backed up my complaint, it was imperiously dismissed out of hand; they're all hand-in-glove, and the idea of dumbing down is so that eventually nobody will have the education or nous to take them on. Some much for 'local democracy'!

[Gerry Glyde]

Olly, You are mixing two issues. Just because you lost your case does not mean there is collusion. It is only necessary to look at the Ombudsman reports to see the in depth criticisms that they make of Council staff. Although you thought your evidence was indisputable the investigator came to their own opinion having considered both sides. Over the years I have been an advocate for complainants arguing their cases but more recently have been the subject of complaints by members of the public and can tell you that the investigators left no stone unturned in their efforts to find if the complaints were justified. All files have to be supplied in addition to interviews; it is not an easy ride.

[Olly]

[quoted]
Gerry Glyde wrote:
Olly, You are mixing two issues. Just because you lost your case does not mean there is collusion. It is only necessary to look at the Ombudsman reports to see the in depth criticisms that they make of Council staff. Although you thought your evidence was indisputable the investigator came to their own opinion having considered both sides. Over the years I have been an advocate for complainants arguing their cases but more recently have been the subject of complaints by members of the public and can tell you that the investigators left no stone unturned in their efforts to find if the complaints were justified. All files have to be supplied in addition to interviews; it is not an easy ride.
[/quoted]

You obviously have more faith in the ethics of public bodies than I have then Gerry. If someone presents as part of their complaint indisputable and incontrovertible evidence of the validity of it, but the arbitrator dismisses it, I'm left with the impression of indifference at best, and conspiracy at worst. But they have a way of feigning impartiality and fairness by clever use of words for the public consumption when the reverse was true. Call me a cynic if you like, but try listening to File on 4 (radio 4) some time and you might fine out why I'm so cynical.

[Anonymous1]

[quoted]
Olly wrote:

God how I loathe politicians!!

[/quoted]

Farage is a politician.

[Olly]

[quoted]
G.K. wrote:
[quoted]
Olly wrote:

God how I loathe politicians!!

[/quoted]

Farage is a politician.
[/quoted]

Yes, but of unknown quality so far - the others have already proved themselves to be useless. At least he's patriotic.

[Watcher]

Thank you for your comments on this matter,its a pity no-one seems to know what happened in the matter of the PCSOs.and the dismissal.
Gerry .I too have had dealings with the local government ombudsman he took their word for everything--even the council stating that trees which are growing on their land were on mine! He would not come out and look or take notice of photos.