View all newsletters
Sign up for our free email newsletters

Fighting for quality news media in the digital age.

  1. Comment
July 8, 2014

Why Bournemouth Echo is well within its rights to publish police pics of drink drivers

By Cleland Thom

The Bournemouth Echo’s decision to use huge mugshots of drink-drive offenders on their website has had some of their readers reaching for their law books.

The story attracted more than 70 comments, mainly in favour of prominent naming and shaming.

But one poster said: "I don’t agree with the photos being shown. The top one is outside court, fair enough, public place and all that.

"The others are clearly mugshots taken at the police station then handed to the Echo. This is a massive breach of confidentiality and the Data Protection Act. These people should sue, they'd win.

"The only justification for publishing an official police mugshot is if a criminal was on the run and it would be justified to help the public look out for him."

In fact the Echo have the legal right to publish the images.

They have a journalistic exemption under the Data Protection Act, and the pictures aren’t defamatory if they are accompanied by privileged court copy or accurate facts.

Content from our partners
MHP Group's 30 To Watch awards for young journalists open for entries
How PA Media is helping newspapers make the digital transition
Publishing on the open web is broken, how generative AI could help fix it

Dorset police are keen to provide custody photos … unlike their colleagues in Lancashire, who refused to supply them to local media until being pressured into changing their minds Echo deputy editor Andy Martin said: "We give the mugshots prominence during the major drink drive campaigns in summer and Christmas.

"It’s hugely important to highlight the danger and consequences of drink driving, an offence that is totally avoidable."

The paper gives similar prominence to people convicted of other offences, too.

Andy added:  "If one person decides not to drink and drive because they don’t want to risk appearing on the front page, then it’s worth it."

I suspect the offenders will be asking Google for the ‘right to be forgotten’ at some point!

Cleland Thom is a consultant in media law

Email pged@pressgazette.co.uk to point out mistakes, provide story tips or send in a letter for publication on our "Letters Page" blog

Select and enter your email address Weekly insight into the big strategic issues affecting the future of the news industry. Essential reading for media leaders every Thursday. Your morning brew of news about the world of news from Press Gazette and elsewhere in the media. Sent at around 10am UK time. Our weekly does of strategic insight about the future of news media aimed at US readers. A fortnightly update from the front-line of news and advertising. Aimed at marketers and those involved in the advertising industry.
  • Business owner/co-owner
  • CEO
  • COO
  • CFO
  • CTO
  • Chairperson
  • Non-Exec Director
  • Other C-Suite
  • Managing Director
  • President/Partner
  • Senior Executive/SVP or Corporate VP or equivalent
  • Director or equivalent
  • Group or Senior Manager
  • Head of Department/Function
  • Manager
  • Non-manager
  • Retired
  • Other
Visit our privacy Policy for more information about our services, how New Statesman Media Group may use, process and share your personal data, including information on your rights in respect of your personal data and how you can unsubscribe from future marketing communications.
Thank you

Thanks for subscribing.

Websites in our network