A CRACKDOWN on unclaimed freebies is set to be enforced when Worcester City Council introduces a 'code of conduct' for employees.

Under new rules all staff in 'politically restricted' jobs - such as all heads of service - will have to declare all gifts and hospitality worth over £30.

Failure to do so could result in disciplinary action before the standards board.

As well as heads of service and the chief executive, other staff will be briefed on whether they should declare gifts.

The new code mirrors the code of conduct now in place for elected politicians, who must also declare freebies and personal interests that may affect their impartiality.

The code will also have a members' interests section, where employees must record any 'personal interests' that conflict with their duties.

Deputy chief executive Philip Betts said: "This code will bring paid workers in line with what the public expect from councillors.

"We think it's a good thing. We already have a code of conduct in place for employees, but this is the first time we have aligned it with the councillor code of conduct.

"The staff code is going be a similar version of that."

Codes of conduct for recording freebies already exist for councillors and MPs.

The most recent high-profile case of falling foul to a code is the example of one-time Home Secretary David Blunkett, who left the cabinet after failing to declare shares in a pharmaceutical firm last year.

All gifts and hospitality above £25 must be recorded by senior officers within 30 days to avoid falling foul of the code.

"It won't say 'record this pencil as a gift', or anything like that", said Mr Betts.

"The idea of declaring gifts worth more than £25 comes from the councillor code.

"There will be standard forms for senior staff to declare interests, too."