Kerala police opens media information centre

Strengthening police-media relations in Kerala, an information centre was today opened at the state police headquarters here to brief media on a regular basis on major events.

Inaugurating the centre, state home minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan said sound relations and interaction between media and police was essential to present an authentic and objective picture to the people about what was happening around, instead of basing reports on half-truths or untruths.

He said since both police and journalists often worked under compulsions peculiar to their professions, it was easy to develop mutual suspicion. A facility like police information centre would help remove such misgivings on either side.

DGP Jacob Punnose said besides regualar media briefings by designated officers there were also plans to issue daily press notes as round of up of state-wide events.

Besides this, the centre would provide information on such matters as public co-operation for security, details on occasions of natural calamities and accidents and update of traffic regulations.

However,it would not be possible to provide information on the progress of investigations of cases concerning national security, details which could be prejudicial to the progress of investigation of criminal cases, highly confidential information and details of department level disciplinary actions, he added.