A POLICE officer was forced to resign and another given a reduction in rank after they viewed pornographic websites while on duty.

Anthony Bond

A POLICE officer was forced to resign and another given a reduction in rank after they viewed pornographic websites while on duty.

A male constable at Suffolk Constabulary resigned following a disciplinary meeting earlier this year while in 2007 a male sergeant was given a reduction in rank.

The force said last night that both had viewed “sexually explicit” websites.

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said: “Suffolk Constabulary requires all officers and staff to be professional at all times, and to ensure their conduct is exemplary whether in the office or out in the community. E-mail and website usage is monitored and any findings of inappropriate use will be looked into and dealt with appropriately.”

A Freedom of Information request by the EADT found that a total of six employees of public bodies in Suffolk have been disciplined for misusing email or the internet while in work since 2004/5.

An employee at Suffolk County Council resigned prior to a disciplinary hearing in 2006/7 for misuse of IT equipment. While another was given a final written warning for 'inappropriate email use' in the same year.

A spokesman for the council said: “We take the misuse of email and IT equipment by staff members very seriously which is why we regularly remind everyone of the regulations. With over 26,000 people working for the county council, it is reassuring that the vast majority respect the rules and that the number who ignore them is so small.”

At Waveney District Council a male employee received a final written warning in 2004. The council said he was regularly using an 'information website' which, although not banned, resulted in him 'defrauding work time'.

The council said regular checks are carried out on internet use which its staff are aware of.

An employee at Babergh District Council was given a written warning in 2005/6 for breach of the council's internet usage policy.