Work-shy cop caught clocking in before going fishing
An Italian policeman has been placed under house arrest after he was caught clocking-in before engaging in more appealing pursuits, including going fishing with friends.
The 61-year-old officer, whose role was to monitor compliance with environmental legislation, was tracked over a two month period clocking-in each day in the coastal city of Pescara, Abruzzo, La Repubblica reported.
But instead of fulfilling his duties, he spent his days either taking a stroll along the city’s promenade, playing video poker or going fishing with friends.
The arrest comes a week after public sector workers in southern Italy were caught wearing cardboard boxes over their heads in a bid to avoid identification as they cheated on their time clocks.
Police caught 23 council employees in the town of Boscotrecase near Naples on camera clocking-in for friends or punching-in and leaving again, with two donning cardboard box disguises.
Six were put under house arrest, 13 were suspended for a year and four were suspended for six months. With their staff gone, four council offices have been forced to close their doors, the reports said.
The Italian government passed a decree in January cracking down on public sector shirkers.
Employers who turn a blind eye to time-stamp swindlers risk being sent home too.
The problem of time clock dodgers hit the front pages last year after 35 people were arrested in San Remo in northwest Italy and 195 people were placed under investigation for absenteeism.
A traffic cop who lives in the building he works in became the face of the scandal after he was secretly filmed by financial police as he clocked in in his underwear before apparently going back to bed, or got his wife to clock in for him in her nightie.
Comments
See Also
The 61-year-old officer, whose role was to monitor compliance with environmental legislation, was tracked over a two month period clocking-in each day in the coastal city of Pescara, Abruzzo, La Repubblica reported.
But instead of fulfilling his duties, he spent his days either taking a stroll along the city’s promenade, playing video poker or going fishing with friends.
The arrest comes a week after public sector workers in southern Italy were caught wearing cardboard boxes over their heads in a bid to avoid identification as they cheated on their time clocks.
Police caught 23 council employees in the town of Boscotrecase near Naples on camera clocking-in for friends or punching-in and leaving again, with two donning cardboard box disguises.
Six were put under house arrest, 13 were suspended for a year and four were suspended for six months. With their staff gone, four council offices have been forced to close their doors, the reports said.
The Italian government passed a decree in January cracking down on public sector shirkers.
Employers who turn a blind eye to time-stamp swindlers risk being sent home too.
The problem of time clock dodgers hit the front pages last year after 35 people were arrested in San Remo in northwest Italy and 195 people were placed under investigation for absenteeism.
A traffic cop who lives in the building he works in became the face of the scandal after he was secretly filmed by financial police as he clocked in in his underwear before apparently going back to bed, or got his wife to clock in for him in her nightie.
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.