Police Face Clampdown Over Contact With Journalists After Corruption Inquiry

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First Posted: 04/01/12 06:35 GMT Updated: 04/01/12 06:42 GMT   PA

Police face a clampdown over contact with journalists today as an inquiry into media relations with forces is published.

Elizabeth Filkin, the former parliamentary commissioner for standards, is expected to reveal details of a new framework for officers talking to news outlets.

Her report is one of several inquiries launched in the wake of Scotland Yard's phone-hacking investigation, which has unearthed allegations of payments to officers from journalists.

Proposals are expected to represent the toughest clampdown on media relations since former Commissioner Sir Paul Condon launched an anti-corruption drive at the Metropolitan Police in the 1990s.

Ms Filkin's findings into "Ethical Issues Arising From The Relationship Between Police and Media" also come as Lord Justice Leveson's inquiry into press standards is poised to focus on media-police relations.

Last month, inspectors said officers should be banned from accepting free tickets to high-profile events such as Wimbledon, the FA Cup Final or pop concerts.

Sir Denis O'Connor, the chief inspector of constabulary, said accepting such hospitality risked creating the perception that police officers had conflicts of interest, damaging the service's reputation in the eyes of the public.

The review by Her Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary (HMIC) found that while corruption was not endemic, there was a "hugely inconsistent approach" across police forces in their attitude towards free gifts.

Ms Filkin was called in by former Metropolitan Police commissioner Sir Paul Stephenson to examine ethical considerations that should underpin relations.

Sir Paul resigned in July amid allegations about the force's PR contract with Neil Wallis, the former deputy editor of the News of the World, who was later arrested on suspicion of phone hacking.

She is due to present her findings alongside new Commissioner Bernard Hogan-Howe.

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Police face a clampdown over contact with journalists today as an inquiry into media relations with forces is published. Elizabeth Filkin, the former parliamentary commissioner for standards, is ex...
Police face a clampdown over contact with journalists today as an inquiry into media relations with forces is published. Elizabeth Filkin, the former parliamentary commissioner for standards, is ex...
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11:22 AM on 01/04/2012
Any person can be bought for a price, police, M.P.'s, prison officers and possibly judges considering the lenient sentences come criminals get.
09:57 AM on 01/04/2012
What happened to my post? Didn`t it make it because the truth hurts?
09:54 AM on 01/04/2012
Thank God, cops are being clamped 4 gerrymandering the media, bribery is a criminal offence after all! Also as I have quite a few grievances with bog standard services from Police and several other dodgy organisations and since 07, have called it the Leakgate Scandal, as I name and shame, and point out bad practices writing through the media, let`s hope 4 more truth as we all know there is very little confidence and trust between joe public and those dubious characters who are deluded they`re above the law, corruption should be wiped out, so we can believe in better, fingers crossed 4 a clean sweep, as they say!
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Tell the truth ,regardless
09:04 AM on 01/04/2012
No such thing as bent coppers,slightly mishappen maybe.The advice should be very simply so its easily understood.Do not accept money from journalists in exchange for information on cases,it is illegal.Simple enough?