SICK jokes and offensive pictures sent around civic offices have landed officials in hot water.
Staff working for both Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing and Kirklees Council face disciplinary action over downloaded material which is believed to feature images of a sexual nature.
Some of the jokes doing the rounds on the computer systems are believed to have racist undertones, and the staff have been caught up in a major investigation into misuse of emails as workers have sent them on to friends and colleagues.
The inquiry - which centres on the housing offices at Perseverance House and the council's Civic Centre - is set to continue.
No-one will reveal exact details of what material has been uncovered, but it is believed to include "offensive" images of a sexual nature.
The Examiner understands that disciplinary measures are now being considered against a number of people working for Kirklees Neighbourhood Housing - the arms-length management company set up by Kirklees Council to manage its 25,000-plus council houses.
At least one official is expected to move on from the organisation and a similar inquiry is taking place within Kirklees Council.
KNH is reluctant to say much about the inquiry.
Simon Rogers, chief executive of KNH, said: "We are currently investigating allegations of email and internet misuse.
"As this concerns individual members of staff, we cannot comment any further."
A number of people working for Kirklees Council, in several departments, are also being included in the investigation.
A council spokesman said: "It is a large organisation and there is a very clear policy on use of electronic equipment.
"There are currently a number of investigations into allegations of misuse of the email and internet systems.
"We regularly remind our staff about our policies regarding misuses."
The council allows limited personal use of the email and internet facilities, but has strict rules about misuse.
A source said: "They are very strict on cracking down on misuses of the systems.
"Quite rightly, the authority does not want to see the emails and internet being used for any material that can be considered offensive, sexist, racist or pornographic, which is the case in this new inquiry."
* Meanwhile, employers have been urged to spell out to workers their policy for using email and the internet.
The call follows a number of cases where employees have used the technology to download and view pornographic images.
Huddersfield solicitor Steven Pollitt, employment partner at adviser at Eaton Smith, said: "All organisations ought to have a policy in place.
"However, in practice, most organisations do not."
