Now, if you've been counting so far in the news tonight - I've probably said about 6 times that "police haven't provided information." Indeed, it has become the norm where the police press office has flatly denied the media any interviews since September 13th. In that time there have been about three dozen media requests for interviews with the police about cases of urgent public interest, and these have all been declined. For our part, we have been asking the police press office if there has been a change in policy, but we've gotten no answer.
So, today the media decided to once again go on a boycott of the police department. We did it earlier this year, and we're doing it again because the Senior Command has acted unilaterally in taking a decision that affects the free flow of information and undermines the public's right to know. So, as long as the boycott continues, the media has unanimously agreed not to cover any police events or give them any publicity - because we insist our relationship must be unilateral - in the interest of our viewership.
The Commissioner of Police Allen While was supposed to meet with the media form the end of July but it didn't happen. We have been pressing for another date when he can meet, but our requests have been ignored.
We'll keep you posted.
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