Hacking probe prompts Lancashire Police to rethink gifts policy

The HM Inspectorate of Constabulary review team visited the force in the wake of the phone hacking investigation and said its guidance was out of date.

The team’s remit is to ‘consider instances of undue influence, inappropriate contractual arrangements and other abuses of power in police relationships with the media and other parties and to make recommendations about what needs to be done’.

The force has now drafted a new policy which includes an electronic recording system which will be considered at next week’s Lancashire Police Authority audit and standards committee.

Members have expressed concern that the old policy was not regularly reviewed.