Staff concern over 'covert operation'

Cameras and sound recording equipment were discovered by staff at the Fairgreen civic amenity site in Portadown last week.

After a staff outcry the equipment was quickly removed. The council has said the measure was taken to 'protect the public purse'.

It's not thought the New Line site in Lurgan is under scrutiny.

One council worker said: "We have been told there is a fraud and corruption investigation underway - which is fair enough - but they have put a lot of people on edge.

"The room that was bugged is widely used by staff from across the council, not just those at the site.

"Who knows what was recorded and who may have had the finger of suspicion pointed at them - it's not good for working relations.

He went on: "But it really is a joke, I mean they were caught out installing covert cameras by their own CCTV system on the site.

"If they spent the same amount of money and effort on putting cameras up in Glenavon Lane to stop the dumping then at least residents would be happier."

Unions met with council officials to discuss the matter, a spokesman said: "Senior shop stewards from GMB, UNITE and NIPSA as well as two council directors and a representative of human resources attended the meeting.

"The council admitted that a so-called covert operation had been set up but refused to tell us why.

"A situation like this doesn't do a lot for management-staff relationships and we wonder how commonplace the likes of this is within the council.

"There has been a similar high-profile bugging at Lough Neagh Discovery Centre, but the council officers have assured us there have been no similar operations."

A spokeswoman for the council said: "As residents would expect council has a duty to protect the public purse at all times and as such has to take the most appropriate action necessary.

"We have explained this to all the staff concerned and to date they have accepted our reasoning for our course of action.

"We will continue to update them as and when is necessary. In the meantime we would like to reassure people that they can continue to expect the highest standards when they use this busy site with staff on hand to give guidance and if needed a helping hand."