Police maintain good relations with media

Any viewer, reader or listeners of local media know that Police officers and spokespeople are constantly appearing in the news media.

Crime related stories comprise as much as 25% of daily news, said the Police General Manager of Public Affairs, Michael Player.

"The volume of news including coverage of issues such as pursuits and police conduct does appear to play a part in influencing the very small minority of New Zealand society who are anti-police and who seem increasingly willing to resort to using serious violence to escape apprehension," Mr Player said.

However respect amongst the majority of the community for Police remains high with survey measures reporting trust, confidence and satisfaction sitting at around the 75-80% mark.

Reports that Gisborne police are not providing information to local media is misconstrued, Mr Player said.

"Instead of restricting media to a short morning briefing every day, a hangover from yesteryear's communications methods, Gisborne police will provide media commentary on issues as they arise, as all areas do.

"The old-style daily briefings began in the days before cellphones and laptops and were sometimes the only chance media got to talk to police."

Mr Player said Police have a number of ways of communicating with media now including a news area on the Police website which generates emails to all media when a story is posted, media alerts from the communications centres, interviews, conferences, OIA requests and the provision of monthly and yearly crime statistics.

"At any hour of the day or night some part of New Zealand Police is likely to be interacting with reporters and we absolutely need the media to assist in solving crimes and to highlight issues which are affecting the safety of communities.

"We are conscious of the public's need to know what is going on and all our officers from the rank of constable to commissioner can and do speak to the media on matters for which they are responsible. But at all times police need to balance our responsibilities of informing the community with preserving the privacy of victims and the right to a fair trial of those accused of committing offences."