Cigs and radio ban on police

5:00pm Saturday 12th July 2008

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THEY say they are already bogged down in red tape – but now police officers in York and North Yorkshire can’t even listen to the radio or pop out for a cigarette.

Officers have also been told they are not allowed to listen to “background music” while they are at work.

And the force has introduced new rules which forbid police officers from smoking anywhere on police property – even outside.

Chief finance officer Joanna Carter has circulated a memo to all staff urging them not to have a TV or radio on as “background music” while they are at work.

The Performing Right Society (PRS) is cracking down on businesses which it believes breach the little-known Copyright, Designs and Patents Act of 1988.

Under the legislation, companies must have a PRS Music Licence to play any music in public – at a cost of £15,000.

The memo states: “To ensure compliance with the legislation and keep costs to a minimum, colleagues are asked not to use radios, TVs or CD/DVD players to provide ‘background music’ in the workplace.

“Where music is required for business purposes, it can continue to be used.

“However, if you can assist by restricting other use to designated meal rooms, rest rooms and the like, and not bring in such equipment from home, for use at work, then we can reduce the cost for the coming twelve months.”

Police sources say it means officers working into the small hours to complete their paper work will no longer be able to have a TV or radio on.

The Press told earlier this week how North Yorkshire businessman Graham Walker, from Newton-upon-Derwent, who runs a company which produces rubbish containers, was astonished when the society demanded he fork out for a licence – despite the fact he only welcomes a handful of clients into his home every year.

He said: “It’s like Big Brother is watching you and you need a licence to put a radio on in the background. It seems like another stealth tax.”

Meanwhile, the new rules mean officers at York’s Fulford Road police station now have to walk out of the gates and into a public place if they want to smoke. Their outdoor smoking shelter has now gone – but, in a double whammy, they aren’t allowed to smoke in a public place while wearing uniform.

A North Yorkshire Police woman confirmed that the new rules had been put in place at police stations across the county.

But she said: “Officers are not permitted to smoke on the public highway in uniform, but are allowed to put a coat on to cover their uniform up and then leave the premises to smoke.

“They are only allowed to smoke during their breaks.”

Mal Taylor, secretary of North Yorkshire Police Federation, said: “We would rather officers were able to smoke in private, rather than in full view of members of the public.

“The sight of officers smoking, in half uniform, in a public place, is not something we want to promote. We would rather it was done in a designated smoking area.

A spokesman for FOREST, the organisation which campaigns for people’s freedom to smoke, branded the rules “ludicrous.”

He said: “It seems like a complete overreaction and it could actually stop officers from responding quickly to an incident if they are outside and then have to get changed.

“Politicians really need to think twice before they implement this sort of thing.”