Policing in the Media for NSW Police - Research Paper Example

As such, these shows have been positive propaganda for increasing public confidence in, and satisfaction with, the NSW police force. The effect of these shows regarding people’s perception of crime is generally inconclusive. Overall, police objectives are actually being met through the broadcasting of police observational documentaries. The New South Wales (NSW) police department has an extensive media presence through a series of involvement that is self-initiated. Along with a comprehensive public and media relations department, active campaigns are carried out in promoting outreach of police services/presence, for example, NSW police have their own facebook page and twitter account.

Some other involvements with the media include them having made their own television shows that feature them, such as shows like “The Force” “RBT” “The recruits” etc. In the area of policing and criminal justice, the media is unavoidable because it is the main source for the public regarding crime information (Mawby 2011). Indeed, police departments such as those in NSW, have full guidelines clearly outlining how the media functions for the police department.

Further, they have full divisions committed to media and public relations that are available on a twenty-four-hour basis (Lee 2010). The police use the media on a number of different levels. First, and in the most general terms, media relations help improve the public image of the police (Lee 2010). For some time, the police have had a challenging time presenting themselves to the public, and arguably, they are most often or consistently under media scrutiny under circumstances where their image is in question.