Police and Press in Great Britain - The Problem of Terrorism (From Terrorism, Law Enforcement and the Mass Media, P 250-272 - See NCJ-88647)

• NCJ Number: 88653
• Author(s): W B Jaehnig
• Date Published: Unknown
• Length: 23 pages
• Sale Source: National Institute of Justice/; NCJRS Photocopy Services
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

In media coverage of terrorist incidents in Great Britain, the police and the press have cooperated formally and informally to protect lives, but there are signs that anti-terrorist legislation may be used to constrain media coverage.

Abstract

In the adoption of repressive measures against terrorism, notably that perpetrated by groups based in Northern Ireland, Parliament and the police have sought to guard against constraining news reporting; however, agreements have been negotiated between the Metropolitan Police Commissioner and the news media which in varying degrees govern the reporting of police activities. One agreement provides for a voluntary blackout on news reporting in kidnapping or hostage cases; in return, the news media receive daily briefings from police officials and full disclosures of details of the case once victims have been recovered. The other agreement attempts to clarify the relationship between New Scotland Yard and the British Broadcasting Corporation's news and current affairs department. This agreement establishes the procedure the news producers must follow when making programs on subjects which the police consider 'delicate' or 'potentially sensitive.' The media emphasize that they are still in control of their reporting and that compliance with constraints is voluntary. Under the Prevention of Terrorism Act 1976, it is illegal for any person to solicit or invite financial or other support for a proscribed organization, and it further stipulates that anyone withholding information which might be of material assistance in preventing an act of terrorism or securing the arrest of a terrorist is liable for prosecution under the law. The Government is considering whether or not to apply this law against the British Broadcasting Corporation for conducting an interview with a terrorist who admitted complicity in a terrorist act of murder. Twenty-one notes are listed, and the appendixes contain policies and agreements between police and the news media on the coverage of police-related incidents.