Police Officers Banned From Posting Social Media Content Embarrassing Govt

Officers from the National Police Service (NPS) have been hit with tough guidelines governing their conduct on social media. One of those guidelines sees them banned from posting material meant to embarrass the government of Kenya.

In a series of measures shared by the Directorate of Criminal Investigations (DCI) on Monday, June 10, the guidelines, which were contained in a gazette notice issued in June 2017, were meant to ensure professionalism and integrity by the members of the police service while posting on social media.

Here is a breakdown of the guidelines:

Alternative methods to disseminate information.

NPS indicated that it shall pursue alternative methods of disseminating information directly to the public including community newsletters, government-access cable television shows, websites, public appearances by agency members and public area bulletin boards.

Inspector General of Police, Japhet Koome. /X

Personal use of social media Order.

This order sets standards that shall be followed when National Police Service employees use social media in a private capacity, especially if they identify themselves as National Police Service employees either directly or as part of a user profile, or if they can be identified as working for the National Police Service via the content of their posting.

Public comment and police employment.

NPS employees in their capacity have been banned from making any official comment on social media about any incident, police policy or procedure without prior authorization and per the media policy.

Furthermore, spokespersons appointed from the office of the Inspector General or respective Service headquarters are responsible for representing the Service externally on matters concerning communities, crimes, or policing.

Public comment as a private citizen.

"Police officers as public citizens shall have the right to enter into public debates and comment on social, economic or any other issue, however, any comment shall be made strictly as a private citizen and be separate from, and avoid any reference to matters of or employment with the National Police Service," the regulations read in part.

Members of the Service shall not refer to their position or profession when expressing an opinion or participating in public debate in a private capacity and any comments shall not be seen to represent the NPS, Administration Police Service (APS), Kenya Police Service, DCI in part, or to compromise the officers' ability to serve the government of the day in a politically neutral manner.

The regulations warn that police officers who post offensive, racist, tribal, or obscene material on their personal social media sites, shall be in breach of this order and shall be subject to a disciplinary procedure.

Additionally, members of the NPS shall not identify themselves either directly or indirectly on social media sites as employees of the National Police Service Commission (NPSC).

Online activity

The regulations go on to reveal that every Police officer shall behave honestly and in a way that upholds the values and the good reputation of the police Service whether on duty or off duty.

In posting to social media sites in a private capacity police officers shall be clear it is a personal opinion and avoid posting material that may bring the NPS into disrepute, or otherwise embarrass the government;

Police officers have also been urged to avoid posting documents classified as confidential. However, links or references to documents on official websites or social sites are acceptable and the act is not an offence.

Officers were also told to avoid comments on, suggestions or hints at matters that are likely to be currently under investigation.

"Under no circumstance make offensive comments about the National Police Service, Administration Police Service, Kenya Police Service and Directorate of Criminal Investigations as an entity or to individual Service colleagues;

"Not put to the public any unauthorized or confidential materials including training videos, police notes, and suspect’s interview videos which disclose police methodology to the public; and remove any material posted on social media if uncertain whether such posting would amount to a breach of the law and seek advice from a senior officer," added the regulations.

Authorized disclosure and social media groups.

To avoid any risk of inadvertently posting inappropriate, confidential or sensitive information, NPS employees have been encouraged to instead forward the images or information to the media relations officer at the respective Service headquarters for assessment and posting on official social media sites.

The guidelines go on to state that social media groups shall be operated by well-known account administrators or by group members and such groups registered to the respective media relations office at the respective Service headquarters.

Improper associations and media.

Police officers shall take all reasonable steps to identify and avoid associations with people, groups or organizations that are involved in any activity that is incompatible with the National Police Service's role to uphold the law.

Thus, a police officer contacted by the media about posts on their social media sites that relate to the whole Service or part shall talk to their superiors and the police media relations office before responding.

Corporate Identity

The NPS, Kenya Police Service, and APS logos were clarified to be an important visual for the Service and crucial to its brand awareness and identity and the logo shall be used only in official communication and purposes within the guidelines spelt out in the communications and brand manual.