Police forces cannot afford to stay silent during IPCC investigations and should communicate with the media, new guidelines issued in the light of the widespread disorder in London last August say.

The IPCC says police still have a responsibility to communicate with media, even where investigations have begun, and that incomplete or unverified information can be used in statements.

The new guidelines come in the aftermath of the disorder of August 2011, where an information “vacuum” over the death of Mark Duggan was allowed to develop.

The rumour of a police “execution” was left unchallenged until the IPCC itself issued a statement three days later denying this was the case.

The rumour is believed to have partly been the trigger behind the beginning of disorder, which went on to spread across England and Wales.

IPCC Deputy Chair Deborah Glass said: “This guidance should provide greater clarity for the police service and for the IPCC about communicating with the public – often in testing and difficult circumstances.

“We have addressed the recommendations made by various bodies specifically acknowledging the information ‘vacuum’ that occurred during August 2011.

“This should not happen again. We now need to work closely with the police service to educate and inform officers of all ranks about this guidance so that the myth that police are gagged is finally laid to rest.”

The guidelines indicate that both the police and the IPCC have a shared responsibility to talk about current IPCC investigations.

Police forces can even foreworn the IPCC of statements it is planning to put out if it has concerns over community impact or tension.

Police, could for example, still put out factually correct information following an incident and the information and circumstances around a pre-planned operation.

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