GIFTS AND BENEFITS Flashcards
A gift is defined as?
- Free items or services including but not limited to wine or food, flowers, vouchers for goods or services or tickets for an event which have an actual or estimated monetary value
What is classified as a gift or benefit?
- Is anything that is offered which is not part of an employee’s normal salary or entitlements
A benefit is defined as?
- Are free and usually intangible, and can include preferential treatment, discounted items, special access or other favours
OFFERS OF GIFTS OR BENEFITS
Initial action when offer is made:
- Explain that while the gesture is appreciated, Vic Pol encourages alternative means of recognition which are symbolic.
- Employees are to direct the giver to the ‘Compliments and complaints’ form on the Vic Pol website or suggest they write a letter of thanks to the Chief Commissioner
OFFERS OF GIFTS OR BENEFITS
Gifts or benefits that must be refused -
Employees must refuse any gift or benefit which:
- Constitutes an actual or perceived conflict of interest; or
- Is offered by any person
OFFERS OF GIFTS OR BENEFITS
Gifts or benefits that must be refused -
What constitutes as an actual or perceived conflict of interest?
- Is more than token value
- Is intended to or has the potential to create a perception that the gift or benefit is offered to win favour, or creat a privileged relationship between the employee and the giver/s
- Is money or something that can be readily exchanged for money
- Is likely in any way to bring either Vic Pol or the employee into disrepute
OFFERS OF GIFTS OR BENEFITS
Gifts or benefits that must be refused -
If offered by any person who is:
- Connected with licensed premises, racing or gaming industry or venues, brothels or any other activity directly or indirectly regulated or supervised by Vic Pol
- From an organisation about whom you are likely to make decisions, either directly or indirectly, through recruitment, licensing, or regulation
- Who is known or suspected of being involved in criminal activity or who is reasonably suspected to be a member of or associated with any club or other body which is suspected of criminal activity or other activity which may bring the reputation of Vic Pol into disrepute
- From an organisation from which Vic Pol receives goods or services or whom are likely to make decisions, either directly or indirectly, through tender processes or procurement
OFFERS OF GIFTS OR BENEFITS
How to assess an offer of a gift or benefit:
- Regard a gift worth $50 to be of token value but this threshold is not absolute
- Repeat gifts or benefits of token value received from a single source or organisation may accumulate and become, or be perceived as becoming, no longer token. Repeat offers should be declined
- Irrespective of the actual dollar value, an offer that could create a reasonable perception that an employee could be influenced must be refused
OFFERS OF GIFTS OR BENEFITS
What is the GIFT Test?
G = Giver: who is providing the gift, benefit, or hospitality
I = Influence: are they seeking to influence my decisions or actions
F = Favour: are they seeking a favour in return for the gift or benefit
T = Trust: would accepting the gift or benefit diminish public trust
REPORTING OFFERS OF GIFTS OR BENEFITS
Gifts or benefits that do not require reporting:
The following gifts or benefits can be accepted or declined without reporting -
- Any gift or benefit worth less than $20 that meets the criteria of an acceptable gift under the police and is not part of a series of repeated gifts
- Discounts to police members in uniform where a private organisation has a policy to offer them
- Discounts established by Government for police employees, such as free economy travel for police members and PSO’s on all public transport services in Victoria
- Discounts negotiated by the relevant union
- Low-level hospitality offered during the ordinary course of duties, which is proportionate to the occasion
- Hospitality offered at a work related conference or similar
- Catering for employees by Vic Pol at an approved event or an organisation engaging, or working with employees
- Tokens and mementos handed out publicly to everyone attending an event or conference
- A gift or token value from Vic Pol or another jurisdiction to an employee or work unit in recognition of a significant achievement or milestone
REPORTING OFFERS OF GIFTS OR BENEFITS
Declaring a gift of benefit
- Employees must report all offers of gifts and benefits over the value of $20 on a Form 1387 whether they accept or not
