Reply to: Sacked for 90p

[Gibbon]

Police officers do things wrong all the time and they do not get instantly dismissed even if they lie about it.

This is true as some poor wretches have found out recently, but the answer is in the posts above. His colleagues dobbed him in, and for a reason. The deliberate putting in way below the correct price is an act of arrogance, and he did it in front of people. Do you think it was the first time he acted so arrogantly? Used to see this all the time in the RAF, non team players, leaving people in the tulip etc. Normally if you're a 'good egg' people help you out or give a warning as this is reciprocal behaviour that binds close teams i.e. you can rely on each when the chips are down.

[Paralytic]

People get caught out in lies all the time. You get seen in the pub when you've phoned in sick or whatever... typically that would not get you insta-sacked.

Perhaps. But being caught and challenged after doing so, and then repeatedly lying to your superiors about about it, might do.

I do, however, suspect that a recent very high-profile police officer case covered in the media might have prompted a much harsher result in this particular case. And, like others, i'm guessing that his colleagues did not feel the urge to help him.

[SueEllen]

People get caught out in lies all the time. You get seen in the pub when you've phoned in sick or whatever... typically that would not get you insta-sacked.

Cases like that have been tribunal and generally if you lie about being in the pub, on holiday or whatever when you claim you are sick you can get away with it.

And the principle is entirely clear without you nit-picking every single thing every single person says. Police officers do things wrong all the time and they do not get instantly dismissed even if they lie about it.

Stealing at work - which is what this is - you don't get away with.

[d000hg]

Lying when you are sick so you can take time off can't be proved without digging into your personal life.

Lying about stealing something at work when there are witnesses is different.

People get caught out in lies all the time. You get seen in the pub when you've phoned in sick or whatever... typically that would not get you insta-sacked.

And the principle is entirely clear without you nit-picking every single thing every single person says. Police officers do things wrong all the time and they do not get instantly dismissed even if they lie about it.

[SueEllen]

Hard to believe any lie to a superior is an automatic, unquestioned exit or gross misconduct. I'm sure coppers lie about being off sick with a hangover, or whatever, just like everyone else and get found out all the time. Surely they don't operate on a scale "perfect" "sacked" but would frequently be suspended with/without pay, demoted, warned, etc.

Lying when you are sick so you can take time off can't be proved without digging into your personal life.

Lying about stealing something at work when there are witnesses is different.

[d000hg]

No, I suspect he told a lie to a superior (they tend to be quite good at interviewing people, after all) to cover up his misdemeanour. That would constitute either an inherent dishonesty or gross insubordination, either or both of which would warrant an immediate dismissal. The Federation - who are also serving policemen in the main - would find it hard to argue otherwise.

And let's face it - who wants policemen out there who cannot be relied on to be honest? I sure as f*** don't.

Hard to believe any lie to a superior is an automatic, unquestioned exit or gross misconduct. I'm sure coppers lie about being off sick with a hangover, or whatever, just like everyone else and get found out all the time. Surely they don't operate on a scale "perfect" "sacked" but would frequently be suspended with/without pay, demoted, warned, etc.

[malvolio]

Even so, the forces have some of the best union protection out there. Summary dismissal over a quid, or lying about it, sounds awry. Unless he was told "answer this question under oath" or something.

No, I suspect he told a lie to a superior (they tend to be quite good at interviewing people, after all) to cover up his misdemeanour. That would constitute either an inherent dishonesty or gross insubordination, either or both of which would warrant an immediate dismissal. The Federation - who are also serving policemen in the main - would find it hard to argue otherwise.

And let's face it - who wants policemen out there who cannot be relied on to be honest? I sure as f*** don't.

[Paddy]

Even so, the forces have some of the best union protection out there. Summary dismissal over a quid, or lying about it, sounds awry. Unless he was told "answer this question under oath" or something.

OAP forgetting to pay for an item you will get three police cars an arrest and prosecution. Driving with a car number-plate bulb gone, you will be stopped and finned... as the police keep emphasising, it may be a small offences but these usually lead to much bigger crimes.

[d000hg]

He's probably got form for not paying for things and having pissed off enough people...

Even so, the forces have some of the best union protection out there. Summary dismissal over a quid, or lying about it, sounds awry. Unless he was told "answer this question under oath" or something.

[SueEllen]

One wonders if there is more behind the scenes. If it's literally over a couple of Jaffas you would expect him to appeal or for his union to tear them a new one.

He's probably got form for not paying for things and having pissed off enough people...

[d000hg]

One wonders if there is more behind the scenes. If it's literally over a couple of Jaffas you would expect him to appeal or for his union to tear them a new one.

[malvolio]

And my final contribution is my crime today was arriving three minutes late for work. When I submit my timesheet i will declare I started at 9am.

please call the mi5 for immediate hanging.

this guy stole some cakes for gods sakes. He has been scapegoated for some reason and it’s not fair or right

Wrong. Now go back and re-read the thread properly.

Incidentally he also lied to his superiors when challenged at some length. HTH...

[NowPermOutsideUK]

And my final contribution is my crime today was arriving three minutes late for work. When I submit my timesheet i will declare I started at 9am.

please call the mi5 for immediate hanging.

this guy stole some cakes for gods sakes. He has been scapegoated for some reason and it’s not fair or right

[mattster]

I find this story and sentence remarkable

for those wiser than me what would be the punishment if he had stolen the lunch from the fridge and what would be the punishment if he pinched a bottle of wine

and finally if he stole £100 from the charity box. I think some people on here would advocate hanging of him and all his family for Stealing £100

personally I think he committed a crime but the punishment is no where near proportional

The crime is that he was dishonest on multiple occasions - firstly when he stole the cakes, and secondly when he doubled down and lied about it. What he stole is largely immaterial to his punishment I would have thought, although I guess if it was of sufficient value they might have brought criminal charges against him as well, which they did not in this case.

[NowPermOutsideUK]

I find this story and sentence remarkable

for those wiser than me what would be the punishment if he had stolen the lunch from the fridge and what would be the punishment if he pinched a bottle of wine

and finally if he stole £100 from the charity box. I think some people on here would advocate hanging of him and all his family for Stealing £100

personally I think he committed a crime but the punishment is no where near proportional