Does anyone here know how to deal with the press?

BitterAndTwisted

If I was a witness/victim of a crime/s so serious that the perpetrator is currently on remand and intends to plead guilty, the very last place on earth I would venture to is the court for sentencing.

I'd be minded to take the week off and be away somewhere else far away. By the time you come back the press will be more interested in something else rather than trying to find pictures of you or harassing friends and relatives for information about you.

publicityshy

Nicki wrote: »

The advice about how to conduct yourself is good though. Be polite, well mannered, discreet, avoid photo opportunities, stay away from court as much as you can, and let those who want to hog the limelight do so. Screen your phone calls, and always use the same brush off comment whatever is thrown at you. "I am not making any comment on this matter". Be careful of getting drawn into denying outrageous things thrown at you, as refusing to answer questions following on from that will look bad.

Make use of Victim Support, CPS, Police liaison officers and anyone and everyone else official who comes across your path.

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Thank you all for your advice. I know it's hard to give when I'm not disclosing details, but I've read it all, and will act on the relevant bits. I think that getting a solicitor would be overkill, and as I said I think there are other people who want to talk about it, so it would be pretty pointless anyway. Hopefully their desire to do so will get the limelight away from me. And I can't control that, so I just need to be ready to deal with it.

BitterAndTwisted wrote: »

If I was a witness/victim of a crime/s so serious that the perpetrator is currently on remand and intends to plead guilty, the very last place on earth I would venture to is the court for sentencing.

Yes, it's something like that. It's actually a tough decision to make - I have an incredible sense of wanting to go and see justice being done. You know - see it for myself rather than be told about it. Yes, common sense says not to go, but these pesky emotions are making me want to! I don't have to decide yet though.

Ms Chocaholic - good point about my friend's privacy settings, I will attend to that.

What should I do about my Linkedin profile? I've taken it off 'public search', and there's no photo of me on there, but is there anything else I can do without actually leaving? Cos I need it!

lilibet1

Last year, my dh and myself got caught up in a major unsolved crime which attracted major press interest. It was quite dreadful really, and the one thing I would advice is tell no one and I mean no one of what you know unless you want it to be all over the paper. We told a friend and the next thing we knew was that the story was in the news of the world and they knew everything that was happening before the police started digging, the only thing they didn't know was where the digging would start... I know my friend sold the story to the press and we decided to go through max Clifford. But that was because the story was a big one with lots of public interest. It depends on how much news worthy ness there will be in your story? Good luck x

Nicki

I wouldnt use Max Clifford if you want to keep yourself out of the news! He is very good at getting money for you if you want to sell your story, and even in controlling what the paper he sells the rights to will say about you. Trouble is to get the best deal, he has to trail it round all the papers to tempt them, which potentially gets them all interested in you, and once the first (paid) story comes out, the others will all start digging round for dirt if what you are involved in is sufficiently newsworthy, and then its open season.

OP I know you don't want to give any details but are you sure that what you are involved in will attract a lot of national attention? Did the original crime, before the perpetrator was caught? You'd be surprised how many very serious crimes are committed every day and never get reported, and also how many trials get little more than a paragraph in the local paper. If you know the people involved, then it will undoubtedly be the most newsworthy and exceptional thing you've ever heard, but may not even trigger across the radar for strangers.

By way of example, when I was much younger, I acted for a client who tried to murder his girlfriend with a sawn off shotgun, and it didn't get even a paragraph in the local rag. Also acted for a nurse who was stealing Class A drugs from hospital and selling them, also not reported. Both were on remand for months before trial. You'd really be amazed about the stuff people get up to which comes before the courts every day and doesn't tickle the palate of a jaded court reporter

lilibet1

Well I have to say that Max Clifford didnt pressurise us and to be honest if the other persons story is that news worthy, then it WILL come out anyway. Its very very difficult to keep these things quiet IF it is a big story. Youre right though Nicki, sometimes, things that we think will be big just disappear whereas if its a big story you have no chance unless of course you are able to go away somewhere quiet for a while. And also DONT TELL ANYONE ABOUT IT NOT EVEN YOUR BEST FRIEND LOL..... money does strange things to people xx

Errata

Stay away from the case, say nothing to the press. How hard can that be?

Yorkie1

heretolearn wrote: »

I don't know why people are saying you can sue the paper if they name you. Victims/witness identities are protected only in very specific circumstances, such as being a minor, or being the victim of a sex crime, or a witness who will be in danger if identified.

Here's some guidance on it:
http://www.cps.gov.uk/legal/v_to_z/witness_protection_and_anonymity/

DVardysShadow wrote: »

I agree. As a witness there is a certain amount of protection under contempt of court and maybe - I am not sure on this point - the media may be less likely to be photographing and seeking comment on the way to and from court simply to avoid allegations of harassing a witness.

But if you have decided to turn up for sentencing [which is a bit presumptuous before a verdict has been given], I would say you will probably be fair game for any tactic which the media can think of, because you will not be wearing your hat as witness.

Nicki wrote: »

OP, some well meaning but terrible advice on this thread I'm afraid!

I was a solicitor who specialised in this area of the law for many years up until about 10 years ago. There aren't all that many, and very few outside London. You would be wasting your time phoning a provincial solicitor out of yellow pages and asking for the partner who knows about privacy, I'm afraid. Whilst you might get someone who blags that they know what to do, you are unlikely to get anyone who knows more than some of the (wrong) opinions already posted here.

You are only entitled to anonymity in very few cases - being the victim of a rape or sexual assault, being a minor, or being the victim of blackmail. Otherwise, there is nothing you can do about the press reporting what was said in open court. During the trial, they shouldn't report anything else due to contempt laws, but afterwards might be open season, so be vigilant for a few months afterwards too.

It is very very difficult to get an Order imposing reporting restrictions, and as a matter of principle, if a judge were to make such an Order, the press would usually club together and apply for it to be discharged immediately. That would lead to you incurring the expense of two court hearings with legal representation.

The advice about how to conduct yourself is good though. Be polite, well mannered, discreet, avoid photo opportunities, stay away from court as much as you can, and let those who want to hog the limelight do so. Screen your phone calls, and always use the same brush off comment whatever is thrown at you. "I am not making any comment on this matter". Be careful of getting drawn into denying outrageous things thrown at you, as refusing to answer questions following on from that will look bad.

Make use of Victim Support, CPS, Police liaison officers and anyone and everyone else official who comes across your path.

If you want more detailed advice on anything, or a recommendation for a lawyer specialising in this field, feel free to PM me.

I agree with the above quotes - Nikki's in particular is thorough and correct.

If your name is mentioned in open court, then the press can report it unless there is a specific reporting restriction in place or you're the victim of a sex offence (automatic lifelong anonymity).

The only thing I can possibly suggest is contacting your officer in the case, and seeing whether they can liaise with the prosecution advocate at court - it may be possible for your name not to be mentioned, particularly depending on the various offences to which he pleads guilty (assuming he goes through with his asserted intentions).

OP, if you are the victim in any of these offences, then you may have either a nominated police officer contact, or a member of staff in the joint police / CPS witness care unit. Either of these persons can report the sentence back to you. I really would advise against going to the court.

publicityshy

Nicki wrote: »

OP I know you don't want to give any details but are you sure that what you are involved in will attract a lot of national attention? Did the original crime, before the perpetrator was caught? You'd be surprised how many very serious crimes are committed every day and never get reported, and also how many trials get little more than a paragraph in the local paper. If you know the people involved, then it will undoubtedly be the most newsworthy and exceptional thing you've ever heard, but may not even trigger across the radar for strangers.

No, I don't KNOW that it will get media attention, and I've said as much - the police have said exactly the same things as you - and also that it depends on what else is going on in the news that day. However, there's a very very good chance that it will, and while I'm hoping for the best, I'm trying to prepare for the worst, so that if it does happen I'm able to handle it!

I'd love to be coming back on here and saying 'hurrah, the press didn't care after all', but as a second option I'd rather be coming back saying 'yes, although it was in the papers, I managed to minimise the interest in me' than having this beat me.

Uncertain

Nicki wrote: »

OP I know you don't want to give any details but are you sure that what you are involved in will attract a lot of national attention? Did the original crime, before the perpetrator was caught? You'd be surprised how many very serious crimes are committed every day and never get reported, and also how many trials get little more than a paragraph in the local paper. If you know the people involved, then it will undoubtedly be the most newsworthy and exceptional thing you've ever heard, but may not even trigger across the radar for strangers.

I typed a response yesterday saying almost exactly the same thing but my broadband went down and it got lost. Very few things are as newsworthy as the people involved think. I often see situations where owners of small businesses are terrified that ending up in an employment tribunal will be all over the local paper totally trashing their reputation. In reality, unless there is something really titillating, it won't even get one line on page seven!

Nicki has given excellent advice in all her posts on this subject. I would also echo the suggestion that you stay well away from the court.

publicityshy

Hi,

I just wanted to come back and update this thread. The advice on here was all read and considered. I took some of it, but not all of it - in that I did go to the court, as it was something I really wanted to do.

But I took two friends with me, practised my poker face & 'no comment', and briefed them too. One journalist tried to discuss it with me, but I was able to get rid of her. It was a more 'can we have an interview to hear about your experience' rather than 'we need a picture at all costs' scenario. The advice from here was invaluable in that I felt much more equiped to deal with the situation, and had alot more confidence in going. My friends looked after me very well too.

Oh - and he got 5 years, which was more than everyone was hoping for (reduced from 7 due to guilty plea). It made one national newspaper & also apparantly a small item on the BBC news, but I didn't see that. Previous to the sentencing it was in a number of national newspapers, but the level of detail included about my part in it was reasonably minimal, which was a relief.

Thank you all again for your advice, I really appreciate the time you took to help me even though I know I was being very cagey about the details. I hope I am able to return the favour under my 'real' name one day.