14 Lancashire County Council staff suspended in racist email probe

OFFENSIVE email content that led to 14 Lancashire County Council workers being suspended related to the Israel Palestine conflict, it is understood.

Yesterday, the Lancashire Telegraph exclusively revealed the staff had been suspended pending a major investigation into allegedly racist emails.

It has now been revealed the content of the offending email related to the troubles in the Middle East.

A major investigation is underway following what unions have called the largest raft of suspensions in living memory.

The staff, who work in different departments across County Hall, were suspended on Thursday ahead of disciplinary proceedings and could be sacked if found guilty of gross misconduct.

And the investigation could involve even more workers as council officials try to get to the heart of the offending material.

It is believed the suspended staff are from different racial backgrounds, with a number of them living in Blackburn, and that part of the material was anti-Semitic.

The departments involved are believed to include Adult Social Care and Children and Young People.

In a letter sent to councillors, chief executive Ged Fitzgerald said the staff had been suspended for “inappropriate email use” and promised a “thorough and formal investigation”.

He warned members that “investigations of this nature may result in disciplinary action or in some cases termination of employment” and added: “I am sure you will understand the need for us to adopt a stringent approach to this issue.”

The suspensions were normal HR practice for such serious incidents, he added.

Council leader Hazel Harding said: “We have a code of conduct for anyone who uses our email systems and we take it very seriously.”

Les Parker, a Unite union rep, said: “I have been here for 40-odd years, and I have never seen anything like this number of people suspended in one go.

“Usually it’s one person or maybe two, never ever in the teens like this.

“For this to have happened it’s got to be serious.“ The investigation will begin today when staff return to work from Easter.

Unison rep Carol Lukey declined to comment on the suspensions.

But one County Hall source said: “This could be just the start.

“What tends to happen is the more they start digging they tend to find other people.”

Labour county councillor Terry Burns, who represents Burnley North East, said: “We have a very strict policy on emails, and all the staff know about it.”

Lib Dem group leader David Whipp said: “I am concerned that something like this is happening with public employees.”

Lancashire Council of Mosques senior vice chairman Salim Mulla said his group had been in contact with County Hall relating to the suspensions.

He said: “I believe it was an exchange of views on the Israeli Palestine situation.

“Lancashire County Council should be sensible in dealing with these issues.

“In any organisation you get emails that do not relate to the job, and to suspend people for it sends out the wrong message.”