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College e-mail policy

Introduction

The Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 set out new principles on the interception of communications. Under the act the Department of Trade and Industry have set out Lawful Business Practice Regulations that balance the rights to individual privacy with the proper needs of good business management. The College of Law, as a responsible organisation, hereby sets out its own policy on the use and monitoring of communications in accordance with the recommended best practice guidelines.

General policy statement

a.	The College of Law provides computers, telephones and other communications facilities to staff and registered, current students for the bona fide purposes of College courses and the business of the College. The facilities are not provided for personal or private communications.
b.	The College reserves the right to determine what is proper use of its resources and to determine protocols for the nature and quantity of use of College communications equipment by staff and students.
c.	Individuals will be held personally accountable for any improper use of these facilities.
d.	Improper use of College communications facilities may result in disciplinary action.

Personal use

a.	Personal use of College equipment is a privilege, which the College reserves the right to withdraw without notice.
b.	Reasonable and proportionate use of College equipment for personal communications is permitted, subject to regulations that may be set out from time to time by College Management.
c.	The following criteria will be used in determining whether personal use is acceptable:
	i.	it does not interfere with College business or educational operations
	ii.	it does not bring the College into disrepute
	iii.	it does not breach staff employment contracts
	iv.	it does not breach student regulations
	v.	it does not interfere with proper use of College resources
	vi.	it is not a disproportionate use of College resources
	vii.	it does not offend another member of staff or student
	viii.	it does not breach the terms of the Computer Misuse Act 1990 or other legislation

E-mail & Internet policies

All staff and students on joining the College receive an email from the IT Director setting out the current conditions of use for email and College IT systems.

The Internet policy is displayed on all College computers. Acceptance of that policy is a condition of use.

Use of College IT facilities is deemed acceptance of these conditions of use.

Monitoring of communications

a.	The College of Law reserves the right to monitor the use of all communications facilities provided and to intercept and read any form of electronic communication sent or received by its employees, students and contractors.
b.	Communications equipment usage (e.g. cost or destination of calls) will be regularly reviewed.
c.	The College respects the right to privacy of staff and students. Under normal circumstances the content of individual communications will not be viewed or listened to.
d.	In exceptional circumstances, where there are grounds for suspecting a breach of law,employment contract, College policy or other regulations, and where viewing the content of communications is necessary to establish whether such a breach has taken place, content may viewed.
e.	Any content viewed will be limited to that necessary to establish breach of policy and any information held subsequently will only be used for proper enforcement of the policy.
f.	The College provides payphones at each site for staff and students to make private telephone calls. These facilities are not monitored.

Emergencies

a.	In the event of an emergency, whether College or domestic, College communications facilities may be used.