MPS press office involvement in publicising the conviction of a police officer

Report: 7
Date: 18 May 2006
By: Commissioner

Summary

This paper details the Directorate of Professional Standards’ (DPS) Media and Communication Strategy, which has been drawn up in consultation with the Directorate of Public Affairs (DPA). This strategy outlines policy and procedures when dealing with media interest in all DPS matters, including the conviction of a police officer and therefore addresses the issues raised by the Committee.

A. Recommendations

That the Sub Committee notes the contents of the Directorate of Professional Standards Media and Communication Strategy.

B. Supporting information

1. At the Pension Forfeiture Sub-Committee (PFSC) hearing in December 2005, Members considered the report submitted by the MPA regarding the proportion of pension to be forfeited in the case of an ex officer who had been convicted of an offence in connection with his service as an officer. Members were directed to consider the guidelines issued by the Home Secretary, set out in the Home Office Circular 56/98 December 1998, in order to assist them in determining the extent of forfeiture, if any.

2. One of the factors that the Sub-Committee had to consider (and has to consider for every pension forfeiture cases) was the extent of publicity and media coverage of the offence. As the extent of publicity has a bearing on their decision, Members have requested that at its next meeting a report on the involvement and role of the MPS in publicising information surrounding the conviction of an officer be presented.

3. The DPA press office has a clear media strategy to advise press officers how to handle media issues surrounding DPS cases. This strategy is owned by DPS who have overall responsibility for it. It sets out clearly how DPS expect the DPA to respond to media interest in its cases. The document was first put together in June 2004 and is the subject of regular review. The latest version of the full strategy and DPA guidelines is attached at Appendix 1. It reflects the recommendations made by the Morris Inquiry.

4. The strategy includes as appendices established press office guidance on how to deal with each stage of a DPS investigation and how to deal with officers who are facing criminal charges.

5. The strategy emphasises that DPA will: ‘work on a presumption that information should be made available to the public, but recognise that sometimes this has to be balanced against other interests, including those of security, due legal process and the rights of individuals involved.’

6. It also outlines the considerations that are made before decisions on whether to publicise a case are made. It says that: ‘In judging what information should be disclosed to the media we will pay due regard to relevant legislation including the Human Rights Act, Data Protection Act, PACE and the Contempt of Court Act. The MPS is rightly constrained in what it can say about internal matters and must be mindful of its duties as both an investigative body and as an employer’.

7. It emphasises that each case is dealt with on a case by case basis, with its own media strategy, in consultation with senior DPS personnel or the Gold Group. The strategy says: ‘Each case or investigation has to be considered on an individual basis but while a wide range of varying factors will be involved all press strategies will reflect the objectives and principles outlined in this document. In preparing statements on particularly complex legal matters advice may be sought from the Directorate of Legal Services.’

8. There are some standard approaches for dealing with officers who are arrested or charged but generally this guidance mirrors how we would handle cases involving members of the public. For example: ‘All arrests involving police officers or police staff must be confirmed if we are asked by journalists. The information given should be consistent with that given by the press office to the media in the case of any other arrest.’

9. The guidance makes a distinction between cases that are the result of proactive DPS investigations and those that are not but that still involve serious criminality or matters that could damage the reputation of the MPS. These cases should be considered for being offered to the media.

10. The strategy also deals with relatively minor offences that lead to a charge and states that they should be ‘confirmed to the media if asked but not offered out.’ The guide should be whether we would normally offer out such a charge if it involved a member of the public and may exclude the offering of minor assaults off-duty, drink driving etc. In making this judgement some consideration may be given to the rank or grade of the individual concerned and any issues raised by the offence that relate to their particular role in the organisation (e.g. an officer in CSU accused of a racist offence).’

C. Race and equality impact

The strategy contains a section on Diversity in appendix 7 of the DPA guidelines, which covers any relevant implications.

D. Financial implications

This paper details activities that the DPA is already carrying out within their normal business and therefore there are no financial implications.

E. Background papers

None

F. Contact details

Report authors: Director of Public Affairs, Dick Fedorcio and Commander Sue Akers, MPS.

For more information contact:

MPA general: 020 7202 0202
Media enquiries: 020 7202 0217/18

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