A policeman's blog is not a happy one
Blogs written by police officers are getting harder to find as the release of guidelines is deterring many officers from writing about their experiences online.
Over the past few years a number of police blogs have been started, including You're Nicked, World Weary Detective, Diary of a Bow Street Runner and Cough the Lot.
However, some police forces have issued guidance following an upsurge in interest in police blogs, and many officers are stopping for fear of harming their careers.
"The guidance has led many police bloggers to cease blogging, not because they have breached the guidelines but because they are concerned that the Met 'frowns' on blogging and it may harm their career," said a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police.
"We cannot stop any staff member from creating or contributing to blog sites, but we do ask that they conduct themselves in a professional manner and consider the impact of expressing their views and opinions."
Many police bloggers have now decided to shut up shop and concentrate on offline activities.
"I cannot challenge New Scotland Yard," wrote the author of World Weary Detective. "I am weary indeed and cowardice is my bedmate. The protection of my family must take precedence."
However, others are undeterred and will continue to give a street's eye view of police life. One blogger is continuing because it gives them the only forum to register disagreement with official policy.
"Have any of you ever wondered why we write blogs?" writes the author of Blog of the Blogs.
"The simple reason is that no matter how much we talk at work, no one is listening. There are no forums for ordinary police officers to stand up and say: 'That's good on paper, but this is what happens on the street.'"
Others have echoed the call and made it clear that, while they will continue to blog, the guidelines from the police authorities could make it very difficult for individuals if found out.
"The Met have been careful to say that they cannot stop bloggers in their employ, only that people should be mindful that they risk getting stuck on if they post anything the Met considers inappropriate," wrote a police officer close to retirement in his 200 Weeks blog.
"The catch-all discipline offence they will use is 'bringing the police service into disrepute'. This basically means saying anything the management don't want you to say.
"There will be no requirement that your blog actually did bring the force into disrepute, and they don't even have to produce any evidence that a single person thought any less of the service because of what they read."
Blogs written by police officers are getting harder to find as the release of guidelines is deterring many officers from writing about their experiences online.
Over the past few years a number of police blogs have been started, including You're Nicked, World Weary Detective, Diary of a Bow Street Runner and Cough the Lot.
However, some police forces have issued guidance following an upsurge in interest in police blogs, and many officers are stopping for fear of harming their careers.
"The guidance has led many police bloggers to cease blogging, not because they have breached the guidelines but because they are concerned that the Met 'frowns' on blogging and it may harm their career," said a spokeswoman for the Metropolitan Police.
"We cannot stop any staff member from creating or contributing to blog sites, but we do ask that they conduct themselves in a professional manner and consider the impact of expressing their views and opinions."
Many police bloggers have now decided to shut up shop and concentrate on offline activities.
"I cannot challenge New Scotland Yard," wrote the author of World Weary Detective. "I am weary indeed and cowardice is my bedmate. The protection of my family must take precedence."
However, others are undeterred and will continue to give a street's eye view of police life. One blogger is continuing because it gives them the only forum to register disagreement with official policy.
"Have any of you ever wondered why we write blogs?" writes the author of Blog of the Blogs.
"The simple reason is that no matter how much we talk at work, no one is listening. There are no forums for ordinary police officers to stand up and say: 'That's good on paper, but this is what happens on the street.'"
Others have echoed the call and made it clear that, while they will continue to blog, the guidelines from the police authorities could make it very difficult for individuals if found out.
"The Met have been careful to say that they cannot stop bloggers in their employ, only that people should be mindful that they risk getting stuck on if they post anything the Met considers inappropriate," wrote a police officer close to retirement in his 200 Weeks blog.
"The catch-all discipline offence they will use is 'bringing the police service into disrepute'. This basically means saying anything the management don't want you to say.
"There will be no requirement that your blog actually did bring the force into disrepute, and they don't even have to produce any evidence that a single person thought any less of the service because of what they read."
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