Guide for media-police relations released

Stemming from recent criticisms, the Police High Command released on Friday a general guide on how the media and the police should relate.

The document follows consultation involving the Commissioner of Police, Owen Ellington, the umbrella organisation of the local news media, the Press Association of Jamaica (PAJ) and the umbrella organisation of media owners/managers, the Media Association Jamaica Limited (MAJ).

Hostility prevention

The ground-breaking protocols were published in Friday's Force Orders and offer guidelines to prevent hostility between reporters, cameramen and photographers and the police at scenes of crimes and other critical incidents.

This hostility has caused clashes between members of the media and police, including recent incidents where media personnel were roughed up and their cameras confiscated.

The new agreement accepts the right of the public to information as long as it does not impinge on the security forces responsibility to enforce the law.

Crime scene access

Members of the media who have proper identification will now be given greater access to cordoned off crime scenes depending on the discretion of the commanding officer on the ground

In cases where media representatives arrive at a crime or critical incident scene before the Police, they are not permitted to enter, trample, touch or otherwise interfere with the crime or critical incident scene.

The Police will neither encourage nor discourage the photographing or filming of material by the news media within their view at a crime scene, critical incident scene or the scene of any police operation.

The protocols strengthen the right of the Police to preserve a crime or critical incident scene in order to protect the integrity of the investigation and the dignity of those impacted. 

However, they are not allowed to knowingly obstruct news media representatives in the performance of their duties and under no circumstance must Police personnel attempt to confiscate the equipment of any media practitioner.   

Conversely, the police note that news media representatives are not exempt from the Laws of Jamaica.  

Authority boundaries

The protocols dictate that the police have no authority to invite the media into any private premises without the consent of the owner or person in charge of the premises.

Similarly, they have no authority to prevent media practitioners, suitably identified from entering private premises if permission is granted by the property owner.

News media representatives will not be permitted to interview a person in police custody except in exceptional cases which would require a written request to the Commissioner of Police.