Guidance on media relations issued by the College of Policing

The police duty to safeguard confidentiality of information should be balanced against “the duty to be open and transparent wherever possible” when dealing with the media, says the College of Policing.

In its guidance on relationships with the media, the college raised a number of key points relating to police officers’ relationship with the media.

The review, which was launched in response to the findings of the Leveson report into press misconduct, advised officers and staff to be open and approachable to the media about matters for which they are responsible.

It added officers should communicate on an issue if there is a policing purpose for doing so and if they are the person who should be responsible for discussing it.

Alex Marshall, chief executive of the College of Policing, said: “The police must be above reproach and ensuring integrity in our dealings with the media and the public goes to the heart of trust and confidence in policing. The guidance aims to strike the correct balance between the confidentiality owed to private citizens and the need for an open and honest relationship with the media.”

The Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) national policing lead for communications, Chief Constable Andy Trotter, said: “An open, professional and strong relationship with the media is an essential aspect of the way in which the police are held to account. This guidance actively encourages police officers and staff to speak to the media about matters for which they are responsible. They should be open, honest and approachable.”

The role of Leveson was also cited as an influence on recent relations by Steve White, vice-chair of the Police Federation of England and Wales (PFEW). Writing in The Sun, he warned there was a “misconception” that officers could not speak to journalists and stemmed from Leveson, which has hampered whistleblowing and transparency and is “clearly a threat to democracy”.

“The Leveson Inquiry has had a chilling effect not just on journalism, but on the police,” he said.

“Officers are extremely wary of speaking to the press which in turn is leading to a worrying lack of transparency.”

Other recommendations in the guidance include:

•Any officer or staff member with a relationship (such as a relative or close friend) with a specific journalist should log details with their force;

•All media organisations should be treated in a “fair and equal matter” and dealings with news outlets should avoid favouritism;

•The basis of a conversation with the press should be clearly established beforehand, with conversations assumed to be on-the-record unless expressly agreed otherwise in advance;

•Chief officers should record all contact with the press where policing matters are discussed. Informal meetings where work-related issues are not discussed need not be recorded; and

•Meetings where organisational and policy matters are on the agenda should include a press officer. Interviews and meetings that could touch on national policing issues should see the officer get advice from the college on standards, policy and guidance, or ACPO if on an operational issue.

Naming on arrest

In its guidance, the college said police forces must balance the right to a private and family life with freedom of expression and the right to a fair trial when deciding whether to disclose information on arrests to the press.

This follows a letter written by Home Secretary Theresa May to Mr Marshall to express “concern about the different approaches taken by police regarding the anonymity of suspects upon arrest and charge”.

While Mrs May said anonymity at charge should not occur except “in extremely unusual circumstances”, she said she agreed with the view that those under arrest had a right to anonymity, and asked Mr Marshall to work on guidance for the circumstances in which people who are arrested can be named.

She also reiterated the Leveson report on the media, which has been cited as changing the relationship between police forces and the press, made no recommend