“Say nothing to media on sexual offences”
Photo: Guðmundur Sveinn Hermannsson
The famous Westman Islands Þjóðhátíð got officially under way yesterday amid a war of words between the media and police on the issue of reporting sexual offences.
Chief of Police for the Westman Islands, Páley Borgþórsdóttir, has recently sent a letter to various response teams – medical staff, paramedics, guards, etc. – suggesting that they refrain from giving the media information on any sexual offences which might occur during the festival.
Media discussion should wait
Motivating the request is the view that victims of such offences find it more difficult to “get back on their feet” if the incident in question is the subject of public debate.
“Sometimes suspects are still in custody and victims still in hospital when the offence hits the papers,” explains Borgþórsdóttir.
“I know […] how difficult it can be [for victims] to handle this themselves and deal with the shock when the incident is being talked about in the papers. “There is plenty of time [for the media] to discuss the incident once charges have been pressed or when a conviction has been made.”
Borgþórsdóttir’s recommended response to any queries regarding sexual offences at Þjóðhátíð is simply: “We are not at liberty to disclose such information.”
The letter also implies a media tendency to fixate on sexual offences. “Sexual offences seem to be what the media most want to talk about,” writes the Chief of Police. “It is usually the first question the media ask when they call the police during this holiday weekend.”
A social and democratic duty
The Icelandic Society of Journalists and the Society of Broadcast Journalists have expressed surprise at Borgþórsdóttir’s words, describing the letter as an “attempt to silence”.
“It is the duty of the media to report on violent crime,” reads a joint statement from the two associations, “and silencing such reports serves only the interests of the perpetrator. […] There is no better way to prevent and minimise violence than talking about it honestly.”
“It is the social and democratic duty [of the police and response teams] to give a clear account of newsworthy events during Þjóðhátíð for the good of those attending the festival and for the local residents of the Westman Islands,” the statement concludes.
