Book Description

Interaction between police forces and journalists has become more frequent and professional in recent years, and the relationship can be mutually beneficial. The Home Affairs Committee felt the less-positive aspects of the relationship, however, warranted investigation. This report looks in particular at: the practice of holding off-the-record briefings during on-doing police operations; instances where police have failed to release information to the media; and attempts by the police to control media reporting. The Committee found it difficult to establish the precise extent of off-the-record briefing, but examples cited by witnesses convinced it that it occurs too frequently, and can be particularly damaging during counter-terrorism operations. It is not acceptable for officers to identify individual suspects to the media before charge, as this has the potential to damage the investigation, any subsequent trial and the reputation of suspects released without charge. The leaking of information from police officers to journalist breaches police discipline regulations, but forces often find it difficult to identify the source of the leak. Forces should be more forthcoming in providing on-the-record information to journalists about individual crimes. This in the public interest and greater openness can contribute towards greater public trust in police data. Attempting to influence or control media approaches and programmes is not the role of the police and can be seen as attacking freedom of expression.