DWP and emails

50Twuncle

diolch wrote: »

What an absolute load of rubbish!! If that is the case, then the DWP are the only government dept that has this policy. HMRC, Insolvency Service and a myriad of other high profile, ultra security sensitive departments are more than willing to deal with the public via email.

The normal run of the mill is that the email address is viz:

john.smith@(whatever department).gsi.gov.uk

There is nothing wrong with using email from a security point of view. I have a multitude of email addresses on my laptop that I use, even some in the ultra sensitive MOD and Foreign Office!!!

The reason they don't like using them, is that the email is directed at a particular officer who then has to take responsibility for it. They hate to think that the public have access to the officers and can hold them personally responsible.

I totally agree with you on this - I spent 25 years working for a government department - dealing with highly classified data and there was no restriction (other than common sense) with outgoing emails
Which leads me to question the TRUE reason for DWP's rule
a. Laziness
b. Lack of Staff
c. Inability to cope with modern technology
What do you think ?

diolch

21Twinkle wrote: »

I totally agree with you on this - I spent 25 years working for a government department - dealing with highly classified data and there was no restriction (other than common sense) with outgoing emails
Which leads me to question the TRUE reason for DWP's rule
a. Laziness
b. Lack of Staff
c. Inability to cope with modern technology
What do you think ?

Thanks for that.
I have worked in all of the offices I have quoted, and still use those email addresses for social reasons when arranging to meet for lunch in the city or for advice on a particular problem.

(c) is definitely not the reason, that is unless the staff there are so useless that even with millions being pumped into training it has no effect.

(b) not really, because if the staff weren't there, there wouldn't be an email address! Each address is personal to that one person.

(a) maybe! They have done away with the front line officers that actually deal with the decision making. All you have now is an incompetent telephone answering service. These people have very little training and generally know very little about benefits. There sole aim in life is to get through as many calls as possible without solving any problems! They say they email the query off and someone will ring you back!!! As if.

No I honestly believe that the reason they don't publicise their email addresses is that they wish to be detached from the public as much as they can. They don't want 'John Davies' emailing every other day for an update, to confirm a situation or to ask a question.

There is no reason on this earth that their personal email addresses are kept secret 'for security reasons'.

Even MI6 officers have public email addresses excepting those that are 'field operatives'!

I even have the PM's personal email address, as well as that of Gus O'Donnell, the head of the Civil Service.

Every email received by the Service and every email sent out is very carefully checked for viruses, that is the only check ever made and needs to be made.

The DWP want to hide behind a self imposed protective wall for their own benefit which certainly does not help the general public - those that employ them and those that are served by them. After all they are public servants!!

Trasthmatic

After a whole 5 seconds on google i found the DWP privacy policy. It states

"Internet email is a way of making general enquiries but it is not a secure way to send personal information. DWP regrets that it cannot deal with specific enquiries by email. If you send us an email, we may keep a copy for reference and audit purposes."


No secrets, no laziness its just that email isnt considered secure enough for specific customer details. Its probably a reaction to the outcry when the numpty MP's kept leaving sensitive and claimants info on trains and everyone became uber paranoid about identity theft.

diolch

Trasthmatic wrote: »

After a whole 5 seconds on google i found the DWP privacy policy. It states

"Internet email is a way of making general enquiries but it is not a secure way to send personal information. DWP regrets that it cannot deal with specific enquiries by email. If you send us an email, we may keep a copy for reference and audit purposes."


No secrets, no laziness its just that email isnt considered secure enough for specific customer details. Its probably a reaction to the outcry when the numpty MP's kept leaving sensitive and claimants info on trains and everyone became uber paranoid about identity theft.

Well I think someone had better inform HMRC, The Insolvency Service, the MOD and the Foreign Office, not forgetting the Cabinet Office that all of their email traffic from and to members of the general public, which includes MP's, Ministers and members of the House of Lords is likely to intercepted and possibly be used by Al Queda or at worst, the News of the World!

What a load of bull!! I know why they are doing it, but you will never get them to admit it!! Security of data - who or what are they trying to say - that there own system isn't properly secure?

ceecee1

For your info = see attached link relating to disiplinary proceedures for emailing outside of the goverment secure intranet with restricted information.
ALL personal information is treated as restricted.
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwp-news.cfm/id/B7B485D8-BCE2-4B4C-B2660EF1A32AA1BE

The bit you need to read is at the bottom under the heading of New Discinlinary Advice...

diolch

ceecee1 wrote: »

For your info = see attached link relating to disiplinary proceedures for emailing outside of the goverment secure intranet with restricted information.
ALL personal information is treated as restricted.
http://www.pcs.org.uk/en/department_for_work_and_pensions_group/dwp-news.cfm/id/B7B485D8-BCE2-4B4C-B2660EF1A32AA1BE

The bit you need to read is at the bottom under the heading of New Discinlinary Advice...

Many thanks for that info from PCS.

I must admit that there does seem to be a change, but to be honest I need to review the actual New Security Notice.

I cannot accept that the DWP are singled out in this so I will investigate it with a contact and get to the bottom of the matter.

I am fully aware of what is deemed to be 'Classified' and/or 'Restricted'.

This, if I read it correctly, will cause some dire difficulties.
I can understand why it has been done but to me it appears to be 'over the top'.

What is important is to review what the Security Notice is about.

It has always been contentious as to what is 'C' & 'R'. The replying of emails outside GSI was accepted as part of the work programme and the risks were assessed as minimal.
To say that replying to an email ouside GSI for relevant business purposes is now an offence technically covered by the 'Official Sercrets Act' as it was, will put undue pressure on a department as they will be required to comply with their Charter by way of normal written replies within the guidelines laid down (as if they ever bother to keep to those guidelines!)

diolch

momoney11 wrote: »

No your talking rubbish im afraid, as with what other CURRENT members of goverment staff have confirmed I can also confirm as a current member of staff with HMRC that they under no circumstances communicate with the public via email FACT, maybe it was different for you back in the old day but now security is tight ( CAUSE WE ALL KNOW ITS YOU ANDY AND YOUR RETIRED AND ON A NICE CIVIL SERVICE PENSION AS YOU HAVE STATED BEFORE) I work in an office where most of the staff arent even allowed to use the web only the intranet and we can only email other employees, all emails sent have to be marked accordingly ie restricted, confidentail etc etc. Post the child benefit loss of data cds security was stepped up majorly.

staff arent even allowed to say on social netwroking sites that they are employed by the goverment, hense me on here with a different id, were not allowed to identify ourselves as working for hmrc/dwp on the internet, it can lead to us getting the sack, we were specifically told this not so long ago.
If people could communicate with the goverment via email then we wouldnt have the long waits to get through to helpline would we? but its not secure to communicate this way so it is not a method used by any department, unless its for something trivial or general like 'contact us' for problems to do with the website or site suggestions etc.

Nice to see a certain poster disrupting a thread and deliberatelty causing an argument again *rolls eyes*

As I have said I will look at the New Security Notice. My time with the Service ended in late 09. So if things have changed so drastically I was not aware!

Well as for not being able to say who I worked for, sorry but I broke that rule years ago! As for current employees not being able to describe who they work for - well sorry old bean - you really want to have a look on Linkedinto!!!

It's a who's who in senior positions of the Service together with email access!!

If what you are saying is correct, we are going back to the days of the Cold War when if you had a holiday in any Iron Curtain country, you first had to seek permission to go, then on return submit a report on who you spoke to and what was said!!

And who is this Andy??

I have a meet this coming week and will find out what all this is about to put my mind at rest.

So what do you suggest I do with the names and email addresses I have on my laptop? If holding them are said to be a National Security matter, should I destroy them? Get real, I still communicate from outside GSI, get replies from within GSI and nobody has ever told me that I am a threat to this country!

And by the way I haven't disrupted anything - I have replied to CEECEE1 who first brought this matter up!! Get your facts straight before throwing accusations about!

momoney11

And your response was atagonistic therefore disrupting the thread, backed down now you have been shown you are incorrect. Ive always got my fact straight, its yourself who forgets what you've said from one day to the next, one A&E to the next etc etc

Harry_Flashman

Prinzessilein wrote: »

I am elective/selective-mute.

Please forgive my ignorance, but what does this mean?

As to emails, Government Depts are very cagey about them. As a member of the Armed Forces, I can face administrative action if I send anything with a security classification (even the lowest) by email.

jennie-jack

i think it means she can talk but doesnt. or chooses only to speak to the people in a small circle of trust. its not as easy as saying oh im not talking to you today it is usually phsycological.

forgive me if im wrong about the poster but my friends daughter has been the safe and for her she speak where she knows is safe and shuts down to other people.