Latest changes – engagement and communication

The following amendments have been made:

• in the Sources section the Nesta reference has been updated
• in the Supporting community groups section the broken link to 'NPIA (nd) Local Policing and confidence' has been fixed
• in the Independent advisory groups section an additional reference and link has been added to the end of section - 'College of Policing (2024) Independent advisory groups and scrutiny panels - Independent advisory groups and scrutiny panels in policing'
• in the Partnership working section the broken link to 'NPIA (nd) Local Policing and confidence' has been fixed
• in the Case study section the reference to Barrow Borough Council Crime and Disorder Reduction has been changed to – For further information go to StreetSafe | Police.uk
• in the X section the a typo has been amended from 'The messages can be read by anyone if the author's profile in public'  to  'The messages can be read by anyone if the author's profile is public'

The following amendments have been made:

• in the stop and search example section the reference to EDHR unit has been changed to diversity, equality and inclusion team and the contact link changed to PressOffice@college.police.uk
• in the Failing to engage section the broken link to the HMICFRS report – the rules of engagement has been fixed

15/08/2025 

Amendment 1

Broken link fixed to Without fear of favour report

Amendment 2

Introduction

The corporate communications department

Broken links fixed to CoP and NPCC press office

Amendment 3

Managing inaccurate or misleading media coverage

Broken link fixed to IPSO 

Amendment 4

Information during criminal proceedings

Typo – removed ‘s’ from the middle of ‘documents in principle’

15/08/2025 - removed the word 'gender' from the section called 'criminal investigations'.

Added line "Interim guidance on what information can be released about a suspect or defendant’s ethnicity and nationality came into effect on Tuesday 12 August." and a link to the interim guidance at the end of the introduction.

Under the 'Body-worn video footage' heading, the link to the body-worn video guidance has been updated. And a note added for users to draw their attention to page 45 of the guidance document.

Updated references to Twitter, which is now known as X.

Also added references to other social media platfroms such as TikTok, Instagram and Snapchat. 

Updated broken link to the IOPC and NPCC joint media protocol under 'Incidents investigated by the IOPC'.

Changed wording from unexplained to unexpected under ‘Arrests, charges and judicial outcomes’ under the heading ‘Deaths’

Broken links in Information during criminal proceedings updated:
- Judicial College (2016) Reporting Restrictions in the Criminal Courts
- Media relations protocol

NPCC body-worn video (BWV) advice note added and section added on naming suspects.

Link to IOPC naming policy added.

Additional content added to Naming on arrest.

Updated regarding suspects' right to privacy.

Removal of outdated linked reference material pages.

Naming of suspects - deceased persons.

Deletion of obsolete material from Digital Social Media (case studies).

Paragraph deleted:

 'Before a misconduct hearing takes place, only basic information about the issue involved and the subsequent allegations are made available so as to avoid the force being seen to prejudge a case. Further details would only be released if the media have inaccurate information regarding a case that needs to be corrected or if such information may lessen community concern or tension. Otherwise, details will be proactively provided of the allegations faced and the date of proceedings, along with an explanation of how misconduct hearings generally work.

The panel is constituted of one legally qualified chair, one independent member and one officer of superintending rank or above.

At the conclusion of a misconduct hearing, there is a requirement that the outcome of a case is published within a predetermined timeframe. The legally qualified chair may impose conditions on what may be published.

If an appeal is successful and leads to a decision being made to reinstate an officer after a previous sanction of dismissal, this should be reflected in updated media lines. If the result of the misconduct hearing had previously been offered to the media or the matter resulted in publicity, then the result of the appeal should also be proactively released'

New addition to Engagement and Communications APP.

Addition of a link to ACPO (2013) Guidelines on the Safe Use of the Internet and Social Media by Police Officers and Police Staff.