More on policing …

Inspector Gadget points out the disparity between this morning’s BBC News coverage of the slapping/striking of Nicola Fisher and the killing of police officer Gary Toms.

… this story gets one page in the ‘England’ section with no photograph of the officer and no ‘trial by media’ of the alleged offenders. It was reported on BBC Radio national morning news at 8.03 am for 1.8 seconds.

Uninjured Nicola Fisher, 35, from Brighton, who was slapped across the face and hit on her leg with a baton by a Police Sergeant during the G20 protests has been talking to journalists. She refused to discuss the fee she has received via Max Clifford.

On the BBC News Website this story gets a full page in the UK and England sections, two videos and more discussion ‘out of Court’ of the officers actions from Ms Fishers perspective. On Saturday, BBC Radio national morning news ran the story twice every hour, from 6.30 am to 9.00 am. It was featured twice at length.

On my Ruralshire Constabulary team of young police officers, many of whom provide Public Order support at National events (without incident by the way) the difference in coverage will be noticed, and may add to the widening gap between police and public. Unfortunately, police officers see the media as representing public opinion.

I can understand that many people are upset by the G20 incidents. But when one of your own workmates is killed and receives less media coverage than someone who is slapped round the face and hit on the leg with a hollow metal stick causing no injury, we start to see the moral battle lines being drawn.

(Via JuliaM. Also noted at Landed Underclass)