Do law enforcement agencies have an
obligation to communicate?
22.02.2018, Riga
Iveta Kažoka, director of Centre for Public Policy PROVIDUS
2-day seminar on Raising of Awareness as an
Effective Tool to Prevent Fraud and
Corruption

Duty to be open
and transparent
Duty to
safeguard
confidentiality
and integrity of
information

«When practicable,
a clear and factual account of the operation
should be provided at the earliest opportunity,
while taking care to avoid compromising the
operation in any way»
College of Policing, UK, Communication guidance

Communication with public/media should be
high priority even in strategic and tactical planning
Develop a media plan for high-profile operations in order to:
• provide the public with sufficient information (to minimise disruption)
• provide your agency’s own perspective on the event
• maximise public confidence that your agency knows what it is doing

What are the risks if there is no media plan?
• False and/or inconsistent messages (especially when multiple
agencies are involved)
• Delays in info updates might lead to public speculations that might be
damaging to suspects/witnesses/victims involved
• Media starting their own investigations that interfere with the
operation
• Undermining legal proceedings

Talking to media
• On the record or off the record
• Who is talking?
• Who is a journalist?
• Exclusives: to what extent are they permissible?
• Key principles: fair, accurate, relevant, timely