There is hardly a police operation that does not attract increased public interest. The media have picked up on this interest. However, the work of the media is not always covered by the duty to provide information under press law and the documented right to comprehensive, factual information at first hand. More and more frequently, the media are focusing on curiosity, voyeurism or sensationalism with their reports and formats. Against this background, the police must ensure that reporting about them remains factual and that there is no loss of trust or damage to their image. Clear rules and binding agreements are needed for cooperation with the media.
The NRW State Office for Police Training, Further Training and Personnel Matters (LAFP NRW) is the higher state authority responsible for approving all media requests that go beyond the duty to provide information under press law.
If it is a press inquiry, each police authority processes these inquiries independently. As a rule, these are requests for an interview or statement on current police events. In addition, the state central media management at LAFP NRW is responsible. This concerns reports, documentaries and reports that do not relate to current events. The police authorities receive the most frequent inquiries when journalists want to accompany police operations.
The requests come from television editors who are researching for magazine reports, from radio stations that need original sound for features and from newspaper editors who want to report on police work in more detail - for example in the form of a report. There are also requests for police support for fictional products such as feature films, TV dramas, docu-soaps or scripted reality series.