Source: (2009) Australia and New Zealand Critical Criminology Conference 2009: Conference Proceedings. Pg. 163-170.
In recent times the NSW Police Force has come under fire for their prolific spending on public relations and media
communications. In 2008 it was estimated that Australia policing agencies were spending upwards of $2 million each per
annum in public relations (O’Brien 2008). At the same time as police are increasing their media and communications
budgets, demand has never been greater for reality style television productions focusing on policing. It has been reported
that the NSW Police Force have earned over $1 million in exclusive deals with television networks and movie production
companies for cooperation in a variety of crime related shows (Lawrence & Bissett 2009). Coupled with this rise in police
television deals, the increasing role of media relations departments within policing agencies is indicative of a growing trend
within policing agencies: police public relations work. This paper aims to explore some of the ways in which the police, and
their media units, have moved from simple information sharing to engaging in media management objectives. It will also
examine to what extent this has had an influence on the police image in the media and public. (Authors abstract).
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