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Officer’s spoof e-mail falls flat
Reporter: Richard Hooton
Date online: 26 January 2010
We are not amused, police chief tells Partnership boss
OLDHAM Council has launched an investigation after a joke e-mail sent by an officer sparked an outcry — and upset a police chief.
The e-mail containing photographs of a collapsed block of flats in China was forwarded to members of Oldham Partnership by senior partnership officer Bob Ager with the words “new construction methods adopted in Werneth” attached.
Not everyone was amused and the council received a flurry of complaints with Oldham Police Chief Supt Caroline Ball writing in reply: “I find this very unprofessional and would hope that no-one else in the partnership sends this on.”
The partnership was created to unite groups to improve Oldham and is made up of organisations and businesses across the borough, including police, health and council chiefs. It states: “Our vision is to make Oldham a place where everyone is proud to belong.”
It appears the e-mail, entitled “Beijing we have a problem” and showing a 12-storey building lying on the ground, had already been forwarded several times before Mr Ager passed it on to everyone within the partnership.
It suggests the building toppled over after workers dug out an underground garage and then piled the excavated soil to one side. Once heavy rain seeped into the ground the pressure was too much and concrete pilings snapped. A domino effect was narrowly avoided by neighbouring flats being built far enough away.
Recipients quipped: “This is how not to do it!”, “let’s hope our new build is a lot better than this!” and “anybody who bought a condo here sure has a problem. Talk about a collapsed market!”
Mr Ager tried to recall the message and then issued another saying: “I would like to convey my sincere apologies to all members of the Oldham Partnership for my earlier e-mail.
“I now realise that it was thoughtless and I understand that, in some quarters, it has caused offence and needless upset. Furthermore, it has reflected badly on my senior colleagues in the Partnership Support Team who have had to deal with a number of complaints from some of the recipients.
“I cannot undo the error although an immediate effort was made to recall the communication and this has been at least partially successful. Sincere apologies have also been forwarded to Caroline Ball at Greater Manchester Police in response to her e-mail. To anyone else I have offended, again I apologise, and assure everyone I shall be more circumspect in the future.”
Mr Ager received the backing of some councillors who said a meal shouldn’t be made of such a minor issue and there were more important things to get on with.
But Oldham Council immediately launched an investigation. Chief executive Charlie Parker said: “An inappropriate e-mail caused offence to some recipients and I understand that the officer who did this has since apologised unreservedly.
“In accordance with Oldham Council procedures, however, we must now investigate.”
Comments
How unbelievebly pathetic. It was a JOKE. Are we not allowed them anymore? The e-mail has done the rounds everywhere already anyway. As for the investigation, what a waste of taxpayers money, a bit like the Vance Miller Case eh Oldham Council!!!!
Absolutely brilliant!!! Must have really touched a nerve when you consider Labour's building record in Oldham. St.Mary's estate springs immediately to mind, and the Honeywell centre, Hathershaw is already falling to pieces. They say 'there's many a true word spoken in jest'. I also say. 'If the cloth cap fits - wear it!'
Sense of humour failure, something needed in abundance to be successful in Oldham, sadly lacking.
Unprofessional? Yes, but it goes on throughout commerce and industry. The guy has apologised, get over it. Surely council officers have more important things to do.
Anyone working in the socialist workers paradise needs to realise that Political Correct new speak does not allow for a sense of humour, and anyone showing it will be banned from working for the party.
One day a government will take us back to sense, but it won't be the next one with Camerons 'Blue Labour'
I like the majority of your other correspondents can see thefunny side of this matter but typical of this 'p.c.' world that we have to live in comes the Caroline Ball outlook on things. It is a pity that she has nothing better to deal with seeing that the Grt. Manchester Police have come under severe criticism in the past week or so for their apparent failings to deliver from the Home Office.
Lets get this right, if this e-mail had been sent by a rank and file member of staff, they would have been sacked, but because it was sent by a senoir partnership officer, it is seen as a "minor issue"
What exactly are they going to investigate, they know who sent it and hes apologised, talk about a mountain out of a mole hill. Oldham council again waisting money, whats that saying, something about a fool and his money.
To:Caroline.Ball@oldhampolice.co.uk
from:exoldhamresident@spoof email.co.uk
cc: everyone else
Dear Caroline, get a grip as your reply probably made this the big issue it has become!
Nice to see your prioritising political correctness over crime in the borough. No wonder your moving to pastures new.....
Oldham council and unprofessional in the same sentence!
am i reading this correctly?
they're always proffesional, efficient and value for money to the council tax payer.
urrgh oh! sorry i was dreaming!!
Exoldhamresident you are so off the mark. Caroline Ball has a good sense of humour but has to be seen to be humourless, or face the consequences from by Labour Aparatchiks who monitor our every word and thought.
It is typical of the world we live in today that some people complain at anything they THINK they should do just to be 'politically correct', even if they really are not offended. If they carry on like that then the word 'joke' will soon disappear from the English language ! I give my full backing to Mr.Ager.
Note to Caroline,
while you're complaining i'll get this off my chest too then!
i am offended by the drivesafe cctv car that has been illegally parked on the pavement at the hollinwood junction of the m60, it has no signage informing you that you are under survailence and is impersonating a police vehicle too.
Seems to me that this Council lacks a sense of humour ..... so what if the sender was jibing Werneth. It wasn't too many years ago that the Werneth area was a pround community, look at it now. Also, look at the past history of failures in this town, St. Peter's Precint comes to mind. Mind you, the people of Oldham have a damned funny sense of humour, it's about all we have left going for us !!
Have Your Say
Can't have too much work to get on with if there's time to send jokes around!! Get a life!!
By ProDriver @ 26/01/2010 12:51:51