Police staff accept free meals from tenderers

TASMANIA Police employees have been “provided with education” after dining out with software companies involved in tenders worth millions of dollars.

The government has set aside $ 46m for the Tasmania Police ICT “Project Unify” over the coming years.

Software vendors Niche Technology and Systems integrators BDNA were involved in the $ 13m first stage “Project Atlas”, which replaced dated computer and software systems.

The latest Department of Police, Fire and Emergency Management — Gifts, Benefits and Hospitality Report notes that members of the Business and Executive Services team accepted four $ 70 dinners from Niche Technologies and BDNA in November and December.

The report noted accepting the dinners had not been approved because of “direct conflict of interest as the donor may tender for future DPFEM projects”.

The staff involved were spoken to.

“Employee has been provided with education in relation to the Gifts and Benefits Policy and Conflicts of Interest Policy,” the report noted in each case.

While police accepted numerous token gifts such as chocolates, wine, stuffed toys and books, and from the public and organisations, several cash gifts were returned.

A $ 2000 cheque from Peter Bull at Hampton Peters Real Estate was returned as it was “not in compliance with gifts and benefits policy”.

A $ 30 cash gift from a Nigel Taylor was not returned as he could not be tracked down.

“After several unsuccessful attempts to return money it has now been donated to the Charity Trust,” the register said.

Inspector Michael Johnston returned two cartons of beer to a wellwisher.