ACPO Media Contact Recording
It should be mandatory for ACPO rank officers to record all of their contact with the media, and for that record to be available publicly for transparency and audit purposes. This record need be no more than a very brief note to the effect that a conversation has taken place and the subject matter of that conversation. Where the discussion involves a more significant operational or organisational matter, then it may be sensible for a more detailed note to be retained. Finally, in circumstances where policy or organisation matters may be on the agenda for discussion, it is good practice for a press officer also to be present.
- The NPCC, which replaced ACPO in April 2015, adopted guidance requiring senior officers to record media contacts. Forces publish details of chief officers' media contacts as part of transparency requirements (NPCC, Communications guidance).
- Individual police forces publish registers of chief officer meetings and hospitality, including media contacts, as part of their transparency obligations under the Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011 (Elected Local Policing Bodies (Specified Information) Order 2011, legislation.gov.uk).
How was this evidence gathered?
Response
Accepted
Response
AcceptedThe Prime Minister stated on 29 November 2012: "Lord Justice Leveson makes a number of recommendations that are designed to break the perception of an excessively cosy relationship between the press and the police and we support these recommendations." The College of Policing published Authorised Professional Practice on Media Relations in May 2013 implementing the police recommendations. Source: https://www.gov.uk/government/speeches/david-cameron-statement-in-response-to-the-leveson-inquiry-report
Published Evidence
Published assessments of progress from inspectorates, select committees, official progress reports, and other sources. Source type badge indicates whether each assessment is independent or government self-reported.
College of Policing guidance requires chief officers to record media contacts. The 2013 guidance makes recording of contacts mandatory for senior officers, with records available for audit purposes.
View detailed findings
Mandatory media contact recording for senior police officers implemented through College of Policing guidance.