Police want power to release more details on some cases

[119]

Just reading about this, and i am not that convinced the UK is adult enough for this to work here.


https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c4gd8l1945eo

[bitchstewie]

It's difficult to get the balance right IMO.

Release information and you risk feeding an angry mob.

Don't release information and you risk feeding another angry mob who think everything is a plot.

[JuanCarlosFandango]

bhstewie said:

It's difficult to get the balance right IMO.

Release information and you risk feeding an angry mob.

Don't release information and you risk feeding another angry mob who think everything is a plot.

I think in a democracy the presumption should always be in favour of putting the correct information out there. There'll always be an angry mob.

[abzmike]

In the past the media could be more or less relied upon to present information responsibly. With social media anyone can cherry pick whatever they select to promote whatever their position is. I’m not sure releasing more information will help prevent misinformation by those with an agenda.

[Ian Geary]

I guess the two most recent examples were that Nicola lady who went missing ina river and plod released details of her struggle with depression/ menopause etc. Must have been awful for the family.

Vs the Southport attack where the police were cagey, and internet bots filled the vacuum - with resultant riots/wheelie bin pushing.


It was easier "back in the day" when the 6 o'clock news was read out in a serious voice, and everyone just believed it.

[bitchstewie]

JuanCarlosFandango said:

I think in a democracy the presumption should always be in favour of putting the correct information out there. There'll always be an angry mob.

Sure but then you get into nuances (but important) about appropriate v correct etc.

I imagine many of our laws or Police or CPS guidance that governs this stuff were written with traditional media in mind and they haven't adapted to the reality that one person with an X account and an algorithm can spread misinformation within seconds.

And the misinformation possibly gets amplified more than any correction.

[JuanCarlosFandango]

Not convinced about the good old days when the news just told everyone what to think. There was still plenty of room for speculation, trial by tabloid and angry mobs and less to counter it.

[thepeoplespal]

Mob rule jailed the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four and if Private Eye's investigation and reporting of a panel of 14 international experts into the cause of injury and death of the babies Letby is convicted of murdering or attempting to murder is to be believed, she is completely innocent. It was a st show at the NHS hospital and she was the convenient scapegoat for all of it's failings. Tabloids and social media have her down as some sort of monster & at the time I thought it was true, read that report and digest and it is clear it's a miscarriage of justice.

[Derek Smith]

thepeoplespal said:

Mob rule jailed the Birmingham Six and Guildford Four and if Private Eye's investigation and reporting of a panel of 14 international experts into the cause of injury and death of the babies Letby is convicted of murdering or attempting to murder is to be believed, she is completely innocent. It was a st show at the NHS hospital and she was the convenient scapegoat for all of it's failings. Tabloids and social media have her down as some sort of monster & at the time I thought it was true, read that report and digest and it is clear it's a miscarriage of justice.

Not sure why anyone should think mob rule convicted the Birmingham 'n' and the Guildford 'n'. Letby is not a clear case of a miscarriage of justice, just a social media meme. There's every possibility she's innocent, as with most convicted people, but clear?