Public invited to shape the future of police communications

The public are being invited to shape the future of police communications to help rebuild trust and confidence in policing and to promote greater transparency.   

The College of Policing is resetting the benchmark for how police forces communicate with their communities across England and Wales with updated Authorised Professional Practice (APP) for police and media communications.  

The public are invited to share their views on the updated guidance as part of a two-month consultation which opens today.  

The College is updating its Media and Communications APP – formerly the Media Relations APP – to ensure that police communications are clear, consistent, and trustworthy, and to help rebuild the relationship between the police and the media.

The draft APP reflects today’s fast-paced media landscape with clear guidance for police communicators so that accredited media and the public receive a consistent level of service regardless of where they report from or live.  

It sets out the response approach for investigations, operations, and major incidents, and places more responsibility on police communications teams to improve record-keeping and ensure decisions and rationale are properly logged. 

Lessons learned from recent major incidents and public inquiries are included to strengthen police relationships with accredited media and the public.  

The draft guidance also sets an expectation that all police forces will challenge mis- and disinformation where this may affect public safety or the pursuit of justice.   

The existing guidance is referenced daily by police forces throughout England and Wales, providing direction on how and when to release information. This includes information on suspects charged with offences and those receiving prison sentences, balanced carefully with the right to privacy. 

Interim guidance was published earlier this year in collaboration with the National Police Chiefs’ Council to promote consistency in the police’s disclosure of suspects’ ethnicity and nationality when charged with serious offences. This will be incorporated into the new guidance when released.  

Key proposed changes to the guidance include: 

• Stronger measures to tackle the spread of false or misleading information online 
• Greater support for victims of crime and their families when they face heightened public attention  
• More accountability for senior police leaders to ensure high standards are met 
• New guidelines on when to release details about suspects in high-profile cases 
• Clearer standards for using social media to engage with the public.

Chief Constable Sir Andy Marsh, CEO of the College of Policing, said: "We’ve seen the tremendous impact that quick, clear, and robust communications can have in reassuring the public and dispelling misinformation. We’ve also witnessed how quickly the wrong information can fill the void when information is not provided, sometimes with disastrous consequences.  

"It’s vital that police are consistent, transparent, and fair in the way we communicate with the public, and national guidance is key to make this happen. We are inviting the public to give their thoughts to create guidance that is fit for today’s media landscape, and we welcome contributions from all sides of society. 

"Accredited media are a vital conduit between the police and the public, and they play a pivotal role in holding the service to account while supporting officers with public appeals to tackle crime.  

"I want information to be provided in a transparent, consistent way so that the public can have trust in the service and that collectively we can tackle misinformation which harms us all."

Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, National Police Chiefs' Council lead for media and communications, said:

"The way people access news and information has changed dramatically — and policing must keep pace. In moments of crisis or tension, the public needs clear, trusted voices. That’s where our police communicators come in.

"To do their job effectively, they need the latest guidance — tools that help them deliver transparent, consistent messaging the public can rely on.

"I strongly encourage everyone to take part in the consultation. Let’s shape an APP that’s fit for today’s challenges and earns the public’s confidence."

Dawn Alford, Chief Executive of the Society of Editors said: "Today’s draft APP guidance represents an important and positive shift towards a more open, constructive relationship between the police and the media. Clearer expectations around engagement, transparency and the role of journalists will all help strengthen public confidence and support accurate, public-interest reporting.

"We are pleased to see the value of regular dialogue recognised, as well as greater clarity around how key information can and should be shared. These are meaningful improvements that reflect the benefits of working together.

"There is encouraging momentum here and, alongside the Crime Reporters Association, the Media Lawyers Association and other media bodies, we look forward to building on this progress through the consultation to help ensure the final guidance delivers clarity, consistency and transparency for the benefit of policing, the media and the public."

The consultation on the updated Media and Communications Authorised Professional Practice (APP) opens today, Wednesday 5th November, and runs until 4th January 2026. The new guidance, informed by feedback, will be published for implementation following the consultation's closure. 

To take part, read the draft APP and give your feedback through the online questionnaire.