Media Freedom Committee opposes restrictions on crime reporting

A move by police to suppress details of daily crime in one North Island district does not make its citizens safer but instead may create a false sense of security, says the Media Freedom Committee.

Gisborne police have announced they will no longer routinely provide the news media with information on crimes in the city and district in a move to 'make the community feel safer'.

Its area commander Inspector Sam Aberahama said he saw no benefit in 'reporting to all and sundry'.

But the Media Freedom Committee, which represents editors and directors of news and current affairs for all major newspapers, television, radio and magazines says the policy is not only flawed but forlorn.

Chairman Tim Murphy says restricting public awareness of crime will not actually restrict crime. 'People will feel safer when they know the police are reducing crime or improving their clearance rates by finding and prosecuting offenders -- not when police suppress information on what is going on in their community.'

'Journalists in Gisborne will no doubt make every effort to overcome this unnecessary police impediment -- and the media and community can work together to ensure their fellow residents know what is going on, where and how often. But neither the media nor the community ought to have to go to that extra effort because it suits the police to shut down debate.'

The Media Freedom Committee welcomes an assurance from Police National Headquarters that the Gisborne policy is a one-off and is not about to spread to other parts of the country.

But the committee questions how the Commissioner can allow any of his staff or stations to interfere deliberately in the public's right to know what is occurring in their town and neighbourhoods.

In light of comments by Police Minister Judith Collins wrongly implying that media reporting on the actions and behaviour of police has led to the public losing respect for the police, the Gisborne experiment can hardly be seen as a step forward.

"The unilateral blackout will do nothing to improve public respect for the police. Secrecy breeds suspicion and distrust", Murphy said.

ENDS

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