NCJ Number
57196
Date Published
1978
Length
12 pages
Annotation
POLICE RELATIONS WITH THE PRESS ARE DISCUSSED WITHIN THE CONTEXT OF THE CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION OF POLICE IN GREAT BRITAIN.
Abstract
AS RECENTLY AS THE LATE 1960S, THE GENERAL VIEWPOINT OF THE POLICE IN GREAT BRITAIN HAS BEEN THAT THE PRESS'S FAULTY REPORTING OF CIRCUMSTANCES IN POLICE CASES COULD BE COUNTERACTED BY SAYING NOTHING TO THE PRESS WHENEVER POSSIBLE, OR, IF UNAVOIDABLE, RELEASING MINIMAL INFORMATION TO THE PRESS. THIS VIEW CONTRASTS SHARPLY WITH THE ENLIGHTENED ATTITUDE AMONG CHIEF OFFICERS DURING THE LAST 10 YEARS. CHIEF CONSTABLES HAVE APPOINTED SKILLED JOURNALISTS TO AGENCY PRESS OFFICES, AND THERE HAS BEEN A CONSIDERABLE INCREASE IN THE FLOW OF INFORMATION FROM THE POLICE TO THE PRESS. IN GREAT BRITAIN, WHERE THE POLICE HAVE A CONSTITUTIONAL POSITION THAT ACCORDS GREAT INDEPENDENCE TO INDIVIDUAL POLICE OFFICERS, THE PRESS PLAYS A MAJOR ROLE IN ENSURING THAT THE POLICE ARE ACCOUNTABLE TO THE PUBLIC. SINCE THE PUBLIC MEDIA ARE AN IMPORTANT INFLUENCE IN MOLDING PUBLIC OPINION, IT IS IMPORTANT FOR THE POLICE VIEWPOINT TO BE HEARD THROUGH THE MEDIA. THE POLICE ARE IN A POSITION TO STRUCTURE THE NEWS TO OVERCOME SOME OF THE UNFAIR AND UNTRUE SLANTS WHICH MAY BE GIVEN TO NEWS STORIES. HOWEVER, EVENTS MUST BE REPORTED FROM THE POLICE PERSPECTIVE AS ACCURATELY AS POSSIBLE, EVEN THOUGH POLICE MISCALCULATIONS AND INDIVIDUAL OFFICER PERFORMANCE MAY HAVE BEEN LESS THAN EXEMPLARY. NO INFORMATION SHOULD BE WITHHELD, EXCEPT WHERE PEOPLE'S LIVES MAY BE ENDANGERED BY THE PUBLICATION OF SUCH INFORMATION. IF THE POLICE GIVE THE PRESS THE WIDEST POSSIBLE ACCESS TO THE FACTS ALLOWED BY LAW, THEN JOURNALISTS WILL BE LESS LIKELY TO MAKE UNTRUE OR UNFAIR ALLEGATIONS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (RCB)