Officers meet with journalists on Police/Media relations

By Ryan Haas
Reporter-SKNVibes.com

Photo journalist arrested for taking photos

The meeting stemmed from an incident in which a photojournalist from SKNVibes, Stachio Williams, was arrested for taking photographs across the street from a crime scene.

Deputy Commissioner Stafford Liburd said that the incident highlighted the need for improved relations between the Police Force and the media.

“We need to realise that how we relate information to the public through the media can impact us in a positive or a negative way,” he said at the meeting.

SKNVibes Editor-in-Chief Stanford Conway spoke on behalf of the media before the gathered contingent of Commissioner Austin Williams, Assistant Commissioner Joseph Richardson, Superintendent Joseph Cotton, Police Force Personnel Officer Wendell Wattley and a large group of police officers.

Conway first outlined the differences in the ways the police and media serve the public, but was quick to point out that they both play an important role in meeting public needs.

“Though we have different roles, both the members of the Police Force and media operatives have a duty to fulfill in the interest of the public. Members of these two institutions do have difficult jobs under trying circumstances.

“Therefore, it is imperative that the police and the media work in cohesion and in harmony for the good of  St. Kitts and Nevis as well as for its inhabitants and visitors, and not be adversaries,” Conway said.

HE went on to detail a list of recommendations for improved Police/media relations that he had compiled after consulting with the President of the St. Kitts-Nevis Media Association, Clive Bacchus. ~~Adz:Right~~

Among those recommendations Conway said that the Police should not establish artificial barriers to prevent media access but allow the general public in the vicinity of incident scenes, they should not prevent the taking of pictures or interviews and should not isolate media outside of a crime scene unless their presence jeopardises Police operations.

He also requested that when possible the Police should assign a public information officer at a scene, should establish a “media area” at closed crime scenes and should never shackle or use force against a person at a crime scene unless “he/she presents a clear threat to the police or the public”.

Liburd thanked Conway for his recommendations and said that the Police Force would take the suggestions under advisement for the establishment of a clear protocol that all members of the force would understand.

He also said he looked forward to similar meetings in the future that would help usher in a new era of cooperation between the Police Force and the media.