The Society of Editors has welcomed a “long-awaited” decision by the College of Policing to update its counter corruption guidance following criticism that it equated the media industry with criminality and wrong-doing.  

The decision comes after the Society of Editors and Crime Reporters Association wrote to the College in August 2022 raising concerns that the inclusion of journalists within a secretive notifiable associations section of the College’s APP counter-corruption guidance risked equating the media profession with the wrong-doing and corruption journalists seek to expose and should be dropped. The College has now confirmed that following representations by the media, changes have been made to clarify the distinction in the risks posed by professionals such as journalists and that of criminals.  

Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society said: “The Society welcomes this long-awaited decision by the College of Policing to re-draft its national guidance on counter corruption which previously risked wrongfully equating the media industry with the wrongdoing and corruption it seeks to expose.

“Journalists fulfil a vital role on behalf of the public in bringing offenders to justice. A successful and professional working relationship between officers and journalists remains essential to policing legitimacy in the UK.

“We hope this new guidance sends out a strong message that a healthy working relationship between the media and police forces should be promoted and that, as recognised by the College, the media and police must work together to usher in a new era of communication and co-operation.”

Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO at the College of Policing, said: “The media holds a uniquely essential role for the police by both reporting on our public appeals for information whilst holding us to account and without it the public is not served well.

“The media made strong representations to make changes to the national counter corruption guidance for police and I agree there should be a clear separation between legitimate professions and those under investigation or with criminal records.

“In recent years the relationship between policing and the media has cooled and, in the meantime, we have seen the rise of misinformation online. We’re now working together to make changes so that the public has access to timely and accurate information to keep them and their families safe. 

“I am grateful for the media’s diligent work and careful consideration as we balanced the guidance to ensure we protect the public and correctly identify journalists within their profession.”

Rebecca Camber, Chair of the Crime Reporters Association (CRA) said: “In 2022 the CRA complained that the national counter corruption guidance for officers equated the profession of journalism with criminals, extremists and suspects.

“We are delighted that the College of Policing has agreed to amend this guidance in recognition of the key role that journalists fulfil in keeping the public informed about policing and holding forces to account.

“Media reporting not only helps solve crimes, but it also helps bring offenders to justice and keep communities safe.

“We believe this is a significant step towards the rebuilding of a successful working relationship between police forces and the media which remains essential to public confidence and policing legitimacy in the UK.”

The guidance is now available for all police forces in England and Wales. National counter-corruption guidance is not public facing; however, the College of Policing has released the wording relating to journalists. Copied below.

Professions that may require inclusion within Notifiable Association Policies

There are some professions and occupations which, due to their nature, could give rise to conflict of interest, or a perception of such a conflict. It is important to emphasise a notifiable association policy should not seek to cast doubt on the integrity of those professions but should protect all parties involved from any perception of conflict. Members of a number of these professions (eg, legal profession, journalism) are working within the public interest and policies should not seek to undermine their work.

Policies should make clear that the vast majority of such relationships are likely to be entirely proper and appropriate.

The professions that a notifiable association policy may seek to include are:

• Any person working in an investigative role (e.g. private investigators)
• Contractors or employees of companies or organisations who have a commercial relationship with the force.
• Solicitors, barristers and other members of the legal profession, particularly where they are concerned with cases involving the force.
• Journalists and those working in the media, where their area of professional interest relates to investigations or activity being conducted by the force.
• Any person working in a role where the relationship could cause a conflict of interest if not disclosed.