Gay senior
policeman is denied promotion 'after revealing graphic details of personal life
on Facebook
29 Feb 2008- England- A senior police
officer has been denied promotion to chief inspector level because he posted
personal information about his gay lifestyle on the social networking website
Facebook.
Inspector Chris Dreyfus, 30, British
Transport Police’s head of royalty and government protection, had been offered a
position as a chief inspector with Bedfordshire Police after an interview on
February 13.
But the force subsequently withdrew the offer
after carrying out background checks on him. They discovered he had received a
disciplinary warning from his seniors at British Transport Police over his
Facebook page.
Insp Dreyfus was handed the written warning
last year after it was discovered that his Facebook page included graphic
details about his gay lifestyle.
The page also featured photographs showing him
posing in his uniform at a London Underground tube station. The inspector, from
Bedford, admitted on the site that he was interested in men and looking for
“whatever I can get”.
Insp Dreyfus had also posted suggestive
comments to other Facebook users.
When his bosses became aware of the web page
last summer, he took down references to his job but maintained his right to post
information online about his private life.
He said: “As long as I do not do anything to
disgrace the force then what I do privately is acceptable.” He also said there
was “nothing sexually explicit” on his site.
A spokesman for Bedfordshire Police said:
“After the interview (on 13 February) we ran routine background checks and we
were told he had a live sanction against him.
“Therefore we felt unable to proceed with the
job offer.”
She added that it was routine procedure to
carry out background checks with an officer’s current force, including asking if
there were any disciplinary matters outstanding.
A spokesman for British Transport Police (BTP)
confirmed that the disciplinary warning had been issued in relation to personal
information entered on his Facebook page.
He added staff must not post any information on
websites that could bring the force into disrepute.
As British Transport Police’s head of royalty
and government protection, Insp Dreyfus leads the force’s responsibility for
guarding the Queen, the royal family and government figures when they are on the
transport network.
Insp Dreyfus also used to head the force’s
Counter-Terrorism Proactive Unit, in which he was in charge of 30 officers.
He was involved in the police’s response at
King’s Cross during the July 7 suicide bombings in 2005. He was unavailable for
comment.
A BTP spokesman confirmed Insp Dreyfus still
headed up responsibility for escorting royalty and government figures when they
travelled on the transport network. His official title is Inspector (Special
Movements Section), the spokesman said.
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