Police and the Media: Filkin Report Published

A free press is essential in scrutinising public institutions such as the police and providing information about their work but the relationship between the police and the media needs to be much more open and transparent, according to the findings of an independent inquiry commissioned by the Metropolitan Police Service.

The report by Dame Elizabeth Filkin was published yesterday (Wednesday). She said: “A free press is essential to a democracy as it can provide scrutiny of public institutions, such as the MPS, and is essential in providing information about what the police do. It is critical for policing legitimacy that the MPS are as open and transparent as they can be and the media plays an important part in this.”

But she said she found a range of problems in the relationship between the MPS and the media which needed to be improved. She made seven findings and recommendations.

The report notes that “There is evidence that local practice of providing information to the public and the media varies. However it is in the local context that many examples of healthy and productive relationships with the media have been identified. Opportunities have been missed to make all police officers and staff effective ambassadors for the work of the MPS in protecting the public.”

Its findings also note that “It is important that the public are informed through all media outlets, not just the national print press, because different sections of the public use media in different ways” and its ‘supporting advice’ suggest that “more local newspaper blogs… by front line officers might be encouraged, offering a measured commentary on local crime and policing.”

Responding to the report, Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe said the Met “Will need to ensure that we are more open and transparent, whilst balancing this with the need to retain confidentiality and respect the privacy of those who come into contact with the police.”

The Leveson Inquiry will begin its consideration of police/press relations in mid February. The report records that Elizabeth Filkin met with Lord Justice Leveson to inform him about her inquiry and has liaised with the MPS counsel and provided him with early findings.