Entire department has to quit remote work because some have used a ploy to feign productivity

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A benefit of working from home is the lack of direct supervision – not having a manager constantly checking up on you. As long as monitoring software isn’t overly strict, employees can work with more freedom. However, some employees in a UK police department reportedly took advantage of this, and now the department is requiring everyone to return to the office, as reported by Mein MMO.

Employees faked activity during remote work

Police in Greater Manchester and Durham discovered that 26 employees and contractors were using devices that registered unusual typing activity while on the job, according to The Register. An investigation found that something was automatically pressing keys on their devices to make it *look* like they were actively working.

A months-long internal investigation within the police department led to a former detective, Niall Thubron, being barred from working in UK policing. Reports revealed that he had falsely indicated activity on his computer – specifically, he jammed the keyboard to make it appear as though he was working when he wasn’t.

An investigation revealed that Thubron falsely reported completing work on 38 occasions over a 12-day period between December 2024 and January 2025. The fraudulent activity took different forms, ranging from simply pressing the “h” key 30 times to, in other instances, pressing the “i” key over 16,000 times.

The police haven’t commented on whether any officers faced disciplinary action. However, Niall Thubron, the officer involved, reportedly resigned in May while the investigation was still in progress.

Returning to the office might seem like a minor consequence, but Deputy Chief Terry Woods suggests the penalties could be far more severe.

People deserve to know their money is being well spent, and if anyone is intentionally acting improperly, you can be sure we will take strong action.

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2025-10-08 11:03