Some members of a large local authority's IT department were under suspicion due to lack of productivity.  Managers suspected that they were wasting time by visiting social networking and internet auction sites during working hours.

CCL-Forensics was called in to investigate the computers of the three suspects, paying particular interest to internet history and chat logs.

The results of the investigation were even more damning than the council expected and gave a clear picture of the activities of the suspects.  The report outlined that the employees had been using both online auction sites and their own websites to sell not only personal items but also goods belonging to the council, such as unused laptops, electrical cables and CDs. 

This evidence backed up the testimony of witnesses within the department and gave the council everything it needed to suspend the employees pending a further enquiry.  The local authority asked CCL-Forensics to investigate all other computers within the department to determine exactly which members of staff took part in - or helped to cover up - the misuse.

The three original suspects were eventually permanently dismissed with one junior member of staff receiving a warning for failing to inform management of the situation.