Editorial Standards and Corrections Policy
A positive editorial purpose is not a licence to be inaccurate. These standards explain how Support Our Police distinguishes fact, opinion and support information.
1. Primary Sources First
For police stories we prefer police-force releases, court or government material, recognised policing bodies and the organisations directly involved. We link the primary source so readers can inspect it.
2. We Summarise Rather Than Copy
We write our own summaries and explanations. We do not reproduce complete police press releases or news articles.
3. Opinion Is Labelled
Our Opinion pages carry a visible editorial label. Factual news and resource pages are not used to disguise editorial advocacy.
4. Positive Does Not Mean Uncritical
The site’s purpose is supportive, but credible support includes accountability, professional standards and fair scrutiny.
5. Image Policy
The visual assets in this rebuild are original illustrative images created for the website. Where an image does not depict the people in a story, the caption says so. We avoid implying that a generic image is documentary evidence.
6. Corrections
If a material factual error is identified, we aim to correct it promptly and, where the correction is significant, note that the page has been updated.
7. Privacy and Dignity
We avoid unnecessary personal detail about victims, children, vulnerable people or officers where it is not needed to understand the story.
8. Political Independence
Support Our Police is not affiliated with a political party. On contested policy questions, our editorial pages should distinguish opinion from fact and avoid presenting partisan claims as settled truth.