Prompt's TechBlog
Bobbies told not to blog
13 March 2006
Posted by Annie - prompt
The Metropolitan Police has issued a warning to its staff about blogging - although it would actually like it to be seen as 'guidance' rather than a 'warning'. As a result, a number of police workers who blog have already stopped updating their websites.
There was me thinking that we lived in a liberal country where freedom of expression was inherent in the legal system. But it seems this may not be the case, especially if you're a police officer, surprisingly.
The advice from the Metropolitan Police to its members is that although it cannot stop officers from blogging it would like them to "consider the impact of expressing views and opinions that... bring the organisation into disrepute."
Surely what police officers do in their spare time, as long as it is legal and not infringing on their professional ethics and regulations, is their own business? Isn't issuing guidance on personal blogs just a little outrageous?
This comment from The Policeman's Blog perhaps provides backing for both sides of the debate over the Met's warning: "I can't help thinking that by issuing this guidance the Met is trying to wrestle with a problem that simply doesn't exist. For one thing, hardly anyone who calls the police on a regular basis is able to read, so there's no chance of regular customers not dialling 999 because of something they read in a blog. Secondly, hardly anyone reads blogs, despite what the media says. Thirdly, most police bloggers could give official police press officers a lesson or two in connecting with the public."
Despite the guidance there are currently still numerous interesting police blogs out there, including: The Thin Blue Line, The Special Constable's blog and Blog of blogs. Visit them while you can!
There was me thinking that we lived in a liberal country where freedom of expression was inherent in the legal system. But it seems this may not be the case, especially if you're a police officer, surprisingly.
The advice from the Metropolitan Police to its members is that although it cannot stop officers from blogging it would like them to "consider the impact of expressing views and opinions that... bring the organisation into disrepute."
Surely what police officers do in their spare time, as long as it is legal and not infringing on their professional ethics and regulations, is their own business? Isn't issuing guidance on personal blogs just a little outrageous?
This comment from The Policeman's Blog perhaps provides backing for both sides of the debate over the Met's warning: "I can't help thinking that by issuing this guidance the Met is trying to wrestle with a problem that simply doesn't exist. For one thing, hardly anyone who calls the police on a regular basis is able to read, so there's no chance of regular customers not dialling 999 because of something they read in a blog. Secondly, hardly anyone reads blogs, despite what the media says. Thirdly, most police bloggers could give official police press officers a lesson or two in connecting with the public."
Despite the guidance there are currently still numerous interesting police blogs out there, including: The Thin Blue Line, The Special Constable's blog and Blog of blogs. Visit them while you can!
# posted by Annie - prompt at 4:07 PM 
Comments:
It's a bit of vague guideline because it depends so much on what someone thinks might bring the force into disrepute. From a quick look at those blogs you've referenced, there's nothing that offends me. But these probably aren't the kinds of blogs that were targeted by the announcement. If police bloggers are being honest, and staying legal, there shouldn't be anything wrong with what they write. If they are genuinely bringing the force into disrepute, then they should perhaps be pursuing other avenues to air their grievances or considering a career switch.
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