New police guidelines covering their dealings with the media do not go far enough to support journalists reporting on matters in the public interest, according to the NUJ.

Although a proposed requirement for police officers to record communications with journalists was dropped the NUJ argues that “the guidelines do not go far enough to improve relations of trust and openness between the police and the press”.

The guidelines state that police will not release the names of suspects to to journalists on arrest – only once they have been charged.