Officer’s spoof e-mail falls flat

JOKE backfired . . . the photograph of the collapsed Chinese flats that caused offence

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.”