Police’s Relationship With Media ‘Is Broken and Must Be Rebuilt’, Says Report

The relationship between the police and the press has deteriorated badly in recent years and, “allowed speculation to run unchecked,” according to a report by three media groups. A joint report published on Friday by the Society of Editors (SoE), the Crime Reporters’ Association (CRA) and the Media Lawyers Association (MLA) says there have been “fewer background briefings by the police” which has allowed, “social media commentators to fill the information vacuum.” They have made 26 recommendations for improving the situation. Last year the Conservative MP Tobias Ellwood criticised Dorset Police for a lack of clarify after two children, aged 12 and 17, died off Bournemouth beach in an incident, which he said led to, “wild speculation on social media.”...