HC Deb 03 March 1998 vol 307 cc517-8W
Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what measures the Metropolitan Police have taken to police the flow of information about levels of local crime between members of the Metropolitan Police and local journalists; and if he will make a statement. [31543]

Mr. Michael

The Commissioner tells me that no specific directions have been passed to members of the Metropolitan Police regarding their dealings with local journalists about local crime levels, but that there is a clear expectation that information will be treated openly while being handled sensitively where appropriate. The principles which underpin the guidance that is given to officers about handling the media in connection with major crime investigations apply also to the handling of crime information.

Mr. Öpik

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department how many officers in the Metropolitan Police have been disciplined for unauthorised contact with local journalists; and if he will make a statement. [31544]

Mr. Michael

The Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis informs me that no Metropolitan Police officers have been formally disciplined for improperly passing information to a journalist, local or otherwise, in the last three years. He tells me that an officer who improperly discloses information in their possession as a member of a police force, to a journalist or anyone else, could be guilty of an offence under Code 6 of the Discipline Code which reads as follows: Improper disclosure of information, which offence is committed where a member of a police force:

  1. (a) without proper authority communicates to any person any information which he has in his possession as a member of a police force, or
  2. (b) makes any anonymous communication to any police authority or any member of a police force, or
  3. (c) without proper authority makes representations to the police authority or the council of any county or district comprised in the police area with regard to any matters concerning the force, or
  4. (d) canvasses any member of that authority or of such a council with regard to any such matter.
For the purposes of this paragraph the Isles of Scilly shall be treated as if they were a county".

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