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Chief issues gag order on police
Justice Minister Loucas Louca (L) with Police Chief Michalis Papageorgiou
THE CHIEF of Police has banned non-designated members of the force from talking to the media, warning that violators will be disciplined, it emerged yesterday.
In a circular, police chief Michalis Papageorgiou bans any officers from giving reporters information about an investigation without the permission of the leadership.
The practice by investigators to brief reporters should stop immediately, the circular said.
“The aim of this circular is to put communication between the police and the media on a correct basis,” Papageorgiou said yesterday. “Nothing more nothing less.”
The chief said the force intends on providing timely, accurate and objective information.
In his circular Papageorgiou said only designated spokespeople or their replacements can make comments to the media and only on issues authorised by the chief of police.
Members who violate the instructions will be disciplined, according to the circular.
Before making any comments the spokespeople should contact the police press office for the necessary coordination, the circular said.
Justice Minister Loucas Louca said certain information about cases should not be released to the media.
“Do you believe leaks are right,” Louca said. “Many times issues are made public, which should not have been, ultimately harming the case.”
The minister said he understood the reporters’ zeal to present the events “but some points should not be until the end of the case.”
“Officers who are not authorised to convey information but go ahead and do it should be punished. This is my opinion,” Louca told reporters.
The circular bans all the members of the force from informing reporters or any other person on the progress of the case.
If an officer is contacted by a reporter in search of information they should immediately inform their superiors without giving out anything, the circular said.
The move likely comes in the wake of the murder of Sigma boss Andis Hadjicostis earlier this month when police imposed a news blackout on the course of the investigation.
