Police provide the press with as much information as they can within legal constraints

As a former colleague of John Eccles on the Sussex Express and now working as a media officer with Sussex Police, I must challenge his perception that police do not provide much information to the media.

Sussex Police’s news and media team handles between 30 and 80 calls from journalists every day, issues more than 2,000 proactive public appeals each year, and engages in an average of 10,000 social media posts each month, all with the aim of informing or responding to members of the public on policing matters of concern. The same staff issues public information that keeps people safe during major incidents and this is in addition to the day-to-day engagement by officers and staff working in local communities. At all times, we aim to provide as much information as we can without affecting operational activities, observing the laws around confidentiality and personal information and, as a priority, considering the impact on victims, their families and friends.

John suggests that we do not release the genders of those involved in road traffic collisions and, in this fast-moving world, journalists are rightly keen to be first in getting the news to their websites. This may be before the facts are absolutely clear but, as soon as they are, we will provide that information. It is vital that it is factually accurate or we may create unnecessary alarm to people who have no need to be concerned.

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It may be of interest for motorists to know that someone has sadly died in a collision that is currently affecting their journey home, but we believe it is far more important that bereaved relatives should be allowed to receive this life-changing news through trained and compassionate officers first, rather than reading about it on their social media feeds or hearing it on their radios.

The police enjoy a great deal of support and challenge, for the right reasons, from media outlets in Sussex and we always aim to remain open and transparent, but within the constraints of law governing how police information can be shared and the potential impact on those people directly affected.

Andy Freeman

News and Media Supervisor

Sussex Police

(Sussex Express 1974-1982)