Police media disclosure

Absence of clear guidance for police officers on determining the appropriateness, necessity, and lawfulness of disclosing investigative material to journalists.

26 items 6 sources 3 inquiries
Strongest theme matches

Mixed across source types and ranked by classifier confidence plus text match strength.

Indicative ranking
Committee recommendation
82match
#2 - Inadequate contempt of court laws and CPS guidance fail social media era communication needs.
Home Affairs Committee
Merseyside Police were put in a very difficult position given legal restrictions on communicating the identity of the Southport suspect and the need to withhold certain information in order to protect the trial. The inconsistent advice from the CPS over the publication of information about the suspect’s religion was particularly regrettable and hampered the police response. It cannot...
Matched on terms: media, police
Inquiry recommendation
82match
L77 - Police Media Contact Rule
Leveson Inquiry
The simple rule included within the 'Interim ACPO Guidance for Relationships with the Media' should be adopted as good practice. This is: "Police officers and staff should ask: 'am I the person responsible for communicating about this issue and is there a policing purpose for doing so?' If the answer to both parts of this question is 'yes',...
Matched on terms: media, police
Committee recommendation
78match
#3 - Publish the CPS's new media protocol promptly and ensure shared understanding with partners.
Home Affairs Committee
Notwithstanding potential changes to contempt of court laws, we recommend that the CPS publish its new media protocol as soon as possible and keep this updated at least every five years or earlier if there is a significant change 33 to the media landscape. It should also work with partner organisations in the police and media to ensure...
Matched on terms: media, police
Inquiry recommendation
74match
DM-8 - Guidance on disclosing material to journalists
Daniel Morgan Panel
Guidance should be issued by the Metropolitan Police to enable officers to determine whether it is appropriate, necessary and lawful to disclose investigative material to journalists. That guidance should include a requirement to record by whom, to whom and when any such evidence was disclosed, who authorised the disclosure, the reasons for the disclosure of the material, and...
Matched on terms: disclosure, police
Inquiry recommendation
72match
DM-6 - Guidance on unlawful disclosure recovery options
Daniel Morgan Panel
It is recommended that the Metropolitan Police establish a process to inform police officers about the recovery options available to them when material is unlawfully disclosed.
Matched on terms: disclosure, police
PFD report
69match
Ryan Merna
Apr 2022 · Dorset
The forensic team failed to adequately probe and document disclosures regarding a perpetrator's living situation and weapon possession, hindering risk assessment and police notification.
Matched on terms: disclosure, police
PFD report
65match
Robert Evans
Mar 2025 · Liverpool and Wirral
A lack of guidance and power prevents police officers from ensuring medical attention for individuals suspected of swallowing drugs during a street search if not arrested, creating a critical gap in care compared to those in custody.
Matched on terms: police
HMICFRS recommendation
65match
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: West Mercia Police
Recommendation
Cause of concern: The force does not have the capacity or capability to investigate crime effectively and this is affecting the service being provided to the public. There are failings in the way that crimes are being investigated. Recommendation: HMIC recommends that within six months the force should: introduce effective arrangements to ensure it complies fully with its...
Matched on terms: disclosure, police
HMICFRS recommendation
65match
PEEL 2018-19 CoC Recommendations: Warwickshire Police
Recommendation
Cause of concern: The force does not have the capacity or capability to investigate crime effectively and this is affecting the service being provided to the public. There are failings in the way that crimes are being investigated. Recommendation: HMIC recommends that within six months the force should: introduce effective arrangements to ensure it complies fully with its...
Matched on terms: disclosure, police
PFD report
61match
Kirk Williams
Nov 2014 · Teesside
A significant mismatch exists between police and A&E staff perceptions regarding the treatment of aggressive patients, including those with Excited Delirium, compounded by a lack of dialogue and clear guidelines.
Matched on terms: police
PFD report
61match
David Thompson
Feb 2026 · Devon, Plymouth & Torbay
Police widely use the term 'suicidal ideation' which is not understood by the public or consistently by officers, risking critical information being missed in missing person reports.
Matched on terms: police
Inquiry recommendation
60match
DM-7 - CPS guidance on disclosure for profit
Daniel Morgan Panel
It is recommended that the Crown Prosecution Service's additional guidance should be amended to include a requirement that the Prosecutor should consider whether the information was disclosed with a view to one or both parties securing future profit from the use of that material. Moreover, the additional guidance should also be amended to note that the advantage to...
Matched on terms: disclosure
PFD report
57match
Luke Flynn
Inner North London
The Metropolitan Police lack a policy on handcuff use when requested by medical staff for hospital patients with medical conditions, not mental health issues.
Matched on terms: police
PFD report
57match
John Condron
Oct 2023 · Cheshire
There is no agreed national protocol or specified timescale for police to inform suspects of a decision to take no further action, creating a risk of further self-inflicted deaths.
Matched on terms: police
Inquiry recommendation
57match
L76 - ACPO Media Contact Recording
Leveson Inquiry
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...
Matched on terms: media
Inquiry recommendation
56match
L75 - Discontinue Off-the-record Term
Leveson Inquiry
The term 'off-the-record briefing' should be discontinued. The term 'non-reportable briefing' should be used to cover a background briefing which is not to be reported, and the term 'embargoed briefing' should be used to cover a situation where the content of the briefing may be reported but not until a specified event or time. These terms more neutrally...
Matched on terms: media, police
PFD report
49match
Mark Stephen Smith
Oct 2013 · London (North)
Guidance is needed for emergency services on when to remain on the line with a person who has taken an intentional overdose and is alone.
Matched on classifier match
PFD report
49match
Natalie Turner
Mar 2022 · Blackpool & Fylde
GPs lack specific guidance for managing complex eating disorders, especially when patients are unwilling to engage, leading to uncertainty in treatment. There is also a concern regarding counselling guidance when patients are unwilling to engage.
Matched on classifier match
Committee recommendation
48match
#4 - 5th Report - Maccabi Tel Aviv fan ban
Home Affairs Committee
Given the damage caused to community relations by the decision to ban Maccabi Tel Aviv fans, it is surprising and disappointing that Assistant Chief Constable O’Hara was not more precise in his remarks about whether Jewish representatives had supported the ban. However, we note his personal apology to representatives of the local Jewish community and have no evidence...
Matched on terms: police
IOPC learning recommendation
48match
Recommendation - Cambridgeshire Constabulary, October 2020
The IOPC recommends that Cambridgeshire Constabulary considers adding a risk assessment step to their press release policy relating to potential offences committed by police officers. In particular the risk assessment should consider the potential for disproportionate harm that might need to be considered in line with the IOPC naming policy. A serving officer was arrested and then charged...
Matched on terms: police
IOPC learning recommendation
48match
Stop and search - Bedfordshire Police, October 2018
The IOPC recommends that the College of Policing include a recommendation in their stop and search Authorised Professional Practice that police forces work with the members of their stop and search scrutiny panel to co-produce Governance policies and procedures that build in an option to recommend referral to the IOPC as part of their escalation process. Concerns about...
Matched on terms: police
IOPC learning recommendation
47match
Excessive force alleged during son's arrest - Devon and Cornwall Constabulary, March 2022
The IOPC recommends that Devon and Cornwall police should take steps to ensure Exeter officers and PCSOs are aware of ACPO guidance (Association of Chief Police Officers Communication Advisory Group Guidance 2010) in respect of members of the public taking photographs. This follows an IOPC investigation which dealt with a number of complaints, one of which referred to...
Matched on terms: police
Committee recommendation
39match
#25 - Consider implementing a press judges model to proactively disseminate information on sentencing judgments.
Justice Committee
In order to improve the quality of information in the public domain on sentencing, the judiciary should consider whether the model of press judges, as used in Finland and the Netherlands, could be used. The changing nature of the media landscape means that there is a strong case for taking a more proactive approach to providing information to...
Matched on terms: media
Inquiry recommendation
39match
MACP-10 - Disclose investigating officers' reports to complainants, subject only to substantial harm test
Macpherson Inquiry
That Investigating Officers' reports resulting from public complaints should not attract Public Interest Immunity as a class. They should be disclosed to complainants, subject only to the "substantial harm" test for withholding disclosure.
Matched on terms: disclosure
Detention investigation recommendation
26match
Independent Investigation into Concerns about Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre - Rec R33
The Serco director of media relations should form and maintain a regular stakeholder group.
Matched on terms: media
Detention investigation recommendation
14match
Independent Investigation into Concerns about Yarl's Wood Immigration Removal Centre - Rec R34
Serco should seek to agree with the Home Office a new strategic communications plan for Yarl’s Wood based on the principles of transparency and openness.
Matched on classifier match