World Weary Detective is - or rather, was - one of a handful of blogs written by police officers (or people claiming to be police officers, if you're of a suspicious bent.)
WWD announced on Friday that he, or she, has stopped blogging after a statement from the Metropolitan police management board that warned officers with blogs: "Disciplinary proceedings may be considered against posters of material that may be (among other things) defamatory, offensive or otherwise inappropriate."
That shot across the bows of blogging officers was enough to scare WWD off the web, fearing anonymity may not be enough protection:
I have committed no crime. I have compromised no police operations. I have received no payment for anything published on this blog. All opinions expressed are my own.
It is therefore with deep regret and great sadness that I must announce that I will no longer be submitting posts to this blog. I cannot challenge New Scotland Yard. I am weary indeed and cowardice is my bedmate. The protection of my family must take precedence.
Unfortunately, the Metropolitan police spokesman I talked to earlier today said he was not aware that the Met had issued any statement on blogging. But it will be interesting to see whether other police bloggers follow suit in ditching their online presence if they too get missives from their forces.
Another police blogger, called Bush Ranger, also seems to have deleted their blog over the weekend, although it is not clear if this was for the same reason.
Bow Street Runner is still blogging for the time being, but concludes that World Weary Detective may not be the last police blog to fall:
These blogs also go against the idea of all officers singing from the same hymn sheet and adhering to the collection of corporate buzzwords, nonsenical management speak and phrases that adhere to their own inner logic which form the various vision statements, mission statements and charters for whatever the theme flavour of the month is.
Cough the Lot, the blog of "a thirtysomething copper in suburbia", echoes Bow Street Runner's fears:
I should imagine it is a matter of time before my force follows suit. In the meantime I shall keep posting. I have made many contacts since starting this blog, some on the other side of the world. It would be a shame if police staff are forced nationwide to stifle their views. I vaguely remember training college ... something about freedom of expression?
Such an approach isn't common to all employees of the emergency services who blog, however. Tom Reynolds of the London Ambulance Service doesn't seem to have any difficulty blogging (and writing a book) about his job.
What do you think? Are there any professions where blogging, even anonymously, should be banned? Or should police officers be able to say what they like online?
