Andy Trotter repeats call for arrested to remain unnamed

The chief constable of the British Transport Police and chair of the Media Advisory Group for the Association of Chief Police Officers today repeated calls for a "clear position" that those arrested should not be named.

In evidence to the Leveson inquiry today Andy Trotter said that unless there were "pressing reasons, perhaps to clarify some confusion" the "general position should be that we should not name people who have been arrested", and "perhaps nor should the media".

He added that people who have been identified have sometimes faced "campaigns against them" both physical and via social media.

In June last year Trotter told the BBC in an interview that "action was needed" to stop the press from identifying arrested individuals.

This followed the pursuit of a private members anonymity (arrested persons) bill by former journalist and MP for Broxtowe Anna Soubry, which would prohibit the publication of certain information about people who have been arrested until they have been charged with an offence.

According to the bill's information page on the parliamentary website the bill "was withdrawn by the MP on 4 February 2011 and will make no further progress".

During his appearance before the inquiry today, Trotter added that new media guidance he is due to present to ACPO follows advice to keep "a record of all meetings with journalists, particularly for senior officers".

He added that another of his suggestions currently being considered is that meetings between the press and police "should perhaps be on the internet so people have a public view".

There should be "regular oversight of meetings with journalists by other senior people or by review by the appropriate police authority, so any pattern of regular meetings with journalists is clear for everyone to see", he added.

Asked to respond to claims by some members of the press that the requirement on police officers to maintain records of contact with the press could cause a "chilling effect", he said: "I don't see why that should."

Staff are encouraged "to be open with the media", he added. "We should be doing more rather than less contact, but it should be on the record from a named source. I see no contradiction between being open and having regular contact, and having matters on the record."

He added that in some circumstances it may be appropriate that "background briefings" are made available to a journalist to "give them greater understanding of what the issues can be", but that this should also be recorded.

Trotter also said police officers should not have "close relationships" with journalists, but if they do this should also be declared.

The inquiry has previously heard from the Metropolitan police deputy commissioner Craig Mackey who also said the force is currently looking at the feasibility of all contact between "key members" of the force and the press being recorded and published online for greater transparency.

Mackey said the potential move was being assessed in relation to contact between the media and management board members.

Mackey also said he would also recommend that notes are taken by police officers of all contact with the press, but stressed this only need be a record of the fact a meeting took place, as opposed to a "verbatim transcript" of the conversation.

Earlier this year a report commissioned by the MPS and produced by former parliamentary standards commissioner Dame Elizabeth Filkin, recommended that officers record all contact with the media, and that senior officers should monitor the logs.

Free daily newsletter

If you like our news and feature articles, you can sign up to receive our free daily (Mon-Fri) email newsletter (mobile friendly).