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August 27, 2004
200 civil servants caught in porn sting
By Benedict Brogan, Political Correspondent
(Filed: 27/08/2004) telegraph.co.uk
One civil servant was prosecuted and more than 200 disciplined after a sting operation uncovered substantial use of internet porn at the Department of Work and Pensions.
More than 2.3 million web pages containing sexual images were reportedly accessed by staff in one of Whitehall's biggest departments. One official alone viewed more than 100,000 images.
The department claimed that some of it may have been accessed inadvertently through unsolicited junk e-mail containing links to pornographic websites.
The eight-month survey discovered that 18,000 of the pages accessed on government computers contained pictures of child abuse. In June and July nearly 600,000 inappropriate images were found on the machines.
In addition to the 211 officials disciplined for misconduct, there have been 16 sackings and three resignations. Two civil servants remain under police investigation.
The investigation was triggered last year after an official was found watching pornography. Computer use by the department's 140,000 staff was monitored for eight months.
The revelation drew Tory claims that the Government had "lost its grip" on the DWP.
The Liberal Democrats said figures showed widespread computer misuse across all departments, including the Inland Revenue, and Customs and Excise.
A DWP spokesman said: "When monitoring proves such use on one of its computers, disciplinary action will be taken and may well lead to criminal prosecution."
Posted by Nealus at August 27, 2004 10:02 AM
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