§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what the rules are governing the consumption of alcohol and tobacco(a) on police premises, (b) in administration areas, (c) by police officers on duty outside police premises, (d) by staff on prison premises, (e) by prison officers on duty outside prisons, (f) by staff on fire service premises and (g) by fire staff on operational duties outside prisons. [74269]
§ Mr. DenhamFor the Police Service, the Code of Conduct, appended to the Police (Conduct) Regulations 1999, states that, whilst on duty, police officers must be sober. The Code also states that officers should not 755W consume alcohol on duty unless specifically authorised to do so or it becomes necessary for the proper discharge of police duty. It is for chief officers to determine local policy on the consumption of alcohol and tobacco on police premises and in administration areas and on the consumption of tobacco by police officers on duty outside police premises.
The Prison Service's policy is that no person shall bring alcohol into a prison without the permission of the Governor. Staff are not permitted to consume alcohol whilst on duty, and it is a disciplinary offence to do so. Prison Service policy on smoking is contained in Instruction to Governors 16/1996, Work Place Smoking Policy (a copy of which can be found in the Library) and Governors are required to develop local policies which reflect the guidance in the Instruction. The Instruction advises Governors to impose a ban on smoking in office accommodation including single occupancy offices, corridors, staircases, etc. It does not, however, give advice regarding staff on duty outside prisons, but local policies should address that issue.
I understand from the Office of the Deputy Prime Minister that there is no centrally issued advice to the Fire Service addressing the consumption of alcohol or tobacco by staff on Fire Service premises or by staff on operational duties outside premises. However, under the Code of Conduct in the Fire Service (Discipline) Regulations 1985, it is an offence for an officer to be unfit for duty. The offence is defined in the Regulations as follows:
Unfit for duty, which offence is committed where a member of a fire brigade renders himself unfit through drink or drugs or similar means for duties which he is or will be required to perform or which it is reasonable to foresee that he will have to perform".