Ranchi: Jharkhand DGP Ajay Kumar Singh has issued a circular related to the media policy of the State Police. As per the circular now the police officer and the station in charge will not communicate with the media.
According to the circular, it is the policy of the Police Department to provide relevant information to the media at the right time, at a time when the process of investigation is not adversely hampered the police operations are not hampered or the police personnel are injured. Safety should not be in danger. The legal and fundamental rights of the victim or the accused should not be violated. This should not adversely affect national interests.
It has been said that only the DGP or the police spokesperson authorized by him for the police headquarters will be able to give information related to the police to the media. There will be a media cell branch in every district office, in charge of which will be the ASP or DSP at the headquarters. In the districts, related information can be given to the media by the SP or the media in charge.
The SP and in-charge media cell branch will conduct interviews with the media in uniform. Within 48 hours of a crime being reported, only that much information will be shared that reveals the facts of the incident and assures that the matter is being treated seriously.
Secret or technical sources regarding any crime will not be disclosed to the media, nor will the direction or techniques of investigation be disclosed. The identity of victims of sexual violence and children/ adolescents will not be disclosed to the media. For the police headquarters, ADG and IG rank officers will be appointed police spokespersons by the DGP.
For the police headquarters, the DGP or the police spokesperson authorized by him will be able to give information related to the police to the media. There will be a media cell branch in each district office, in charge of which will be the ASP or DSP at the headquarters.
In the districts, related information can be given to the media by the SP or in charge media cell branch. The material provided to the media by various police units, CID, JAP, Rail, Special Branch, SCRB, ACB, ATS will be made available to the police spokesperson. The police spokesperson will release these materials to the media through a press release or press conference.