New guidance to provide consistency in information given by police

The public can have greater confidence they are receiving accurate information about major incidents and investigations through new guidance issued to police forces, the College of Policing announced today.  

The standards-setting body has published updated guidance for all police forces in England and Wales so that accurate and timely information is provided to accredited media outlets and the public. 

The Media and Communications Authorised Professional Practice (APP) was developed in conjunction with the media so that journalists can fulfil their roles in proving scrutiny of the service and supporting police with appeals.  

The new guidance, which has been published after a nine-week public consultation, sets out how police forces should share information during investigations, major incidents, and emergencies, giving the public confidence that updates are reliable and timely. 

It also sets a clear expectation that police forces will challenge mis- and disinformation where it may affect public safety or the pursuit of justice.   

Key changes include:  

• Guidance on sharing details at different stages of investigations, including nationality and ethnicity 
• Guidance on working constructively with accredited media 
• Clarity on the release of custody images 
• Support for victims and their families, especially when they face public or media attention 

The guidance updates interim guidance published last year on the publication of information on suspects’ nationality and ethnicity in high profile and serious incidents. Police will not routinely confirm the ethnicity or national of suspects, but may do so in high-profile incidents if there is a legitimate policing purpose in doing so.  

Reflecting today’s fast-paced media landscape, the guidance recognises that police forces now operate in ‘always on’ information environments where digital trends, AI-generated content and online narratives can evolve faster than traditional response mechanisms previously allowed.   

It aims to provide a consistent national approach for all 43 forces, in turn increasing the public’s trust and confidence in the police to provide the right information at the right time.  

For journalists, the guidance offers more structured briefings, clearer access arrangements, and improved transparency around how and when information is released. The College has also worked closely with the media and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to ensure the new guidance aligns with the recently published CPS Media Protocol. 

The guidance has been published after an extensive consultation period, which saw hundreds of responses across policing, the media, the public, and other bodies.

Feedback led to changes such as clearer rules on naming suspects, updated language on cases with no further action, and stronger safeguards for victims. 

Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing, said:  “We now live in a world where mis- and disinformation can spread like wildfire, doing untold harm to communities and undermining public trust in the police if not countered quickly. It is therefore crucial that police provide prompt, trustworthy information, on a nationally consistent basis. 

“This guidance sets out the level of information the public and accredited media will receive from police forces, meaning people can expect clear, timely updates, especially at times of uncertainty and during high-profile incidents.  

“We have listened to feedback from the public, journalists, and police professionals to make this guidance fit for today’s challenges and news landscape.” 

Dawn Alford, Chief Executive of the Society of Editors said: “The publication of today’s guidance forms part of a wider commitment between policing bodies and the media to promote an effective and positive working relationship between officers and journalists for the benefit of the public. 

“We are pleased that the guidance now recognises the reality of today’s fast-paced media landscape as well as the challenges posed by mis- and disinformation online and the need for forces to challenge false narratives in a timely manner. We look forward to continuing to work with policing bodies to strengthen this important relationship.” 

For more details or to read the APP in full, visit the College of Policing website. 

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