Times crime editor: Metropolitan police PRs 'less than frank'

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The Metropolitan police press office is "obstructive" and "less than frank", giving a "partial picture" to journalists, Times crime editor Sean O'Neill told the Leveson inquiry today.

In his witness statement, O'Neill described a "closed, defensive and secretive" approach by the Metropolitan police and a "tense relationship with the media".

He told the Leveson inquiry today: "I personally hope that we can reach a more sensible accommodation than we have at the moment."

Asked about the Met's department for public affairs, which deals with the media, O'Neill told the inquiry: "I just think they're less than frank. They quite often give a partial picture.

"I understand from reporting colleagues that they have been quite obstructive about facilitating access. My main issue would be they don't tell the whole story."

He added: "I think that's a fairly constant picture. You quite often just get the bare minimum."

O'Neill gave the example of a Metropolitan police press release about a PC who was convicted of assault.

He told the Leveson inquiry: "What it didn't say was that he had pulled a 14-year-old boy from a car and headbutted him. What they said was not misleading but it was not the full picture."