ACPO Guidance on Hospitality
The recent ACPO Guidance should more specifically spell out the dangers of consuming alcohol in a setting of casual hospitality (without necessarily specifying a blanket ban).
- The College of Policing Code of Ethics (2014) sets out standards on gifts, gratuities and hospitality, including the principle that officers should not accept hospitality that could compromise or appear to compromise their impartiality (College of Policing, Code of Ethics, 2014).
- No published evidence that the specific guidance on alcohol consumption in settings of casual hospitality with journalists, as recommended, has been spelled out in published police guidance to March 2026.
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 specifically addresses the risks of consuming alcohol in hospitality settings with media contacts. The guidance spells out the dangers without imposing a blanket ban, as Leveson recommended.
View detailed findings
Guidance on alcohol and media hospitality implemented as recommended.