Avalanche of “deliberate” negative media reports is affecting public confidence in the service according to staff associations.

Morale in the service is being damaged by the stream of negative stories about policing in the media, it has been claimed.

Chief Superintendent Irene Curtis (pictured), President of the Superintendents’ Association of England and Wales, said she could not remember a time in her 28-year career when journalists had been so hostile.

She said: “It does seem that there has been more negative press, certainly in the past year or 18 months, than I have seen in my service although some of that has been our own fault.

“But you have to bear in mind that officers have seen changes to their pay, conditions and pensions and are feeling very hard hit – in this light constant negative coverage has been a grind.”

As previously reported coverage of issues, such as the Plebgate affair and an ongoing investigation into the Hillsborough disaster have generated negative headlines for the police.

Following the Winsor review into pay and conditions, there were also claims in the media that some officers were overpaid, illiterate and were not fit enough to do the job.

But Ch Supt Curtis said constantly seeking out negative stories was dealing a further blow to the low morale officers are already suffering as a result of cuts and changes to terms and conditions.

“On some days there have been positive events but the coverage was still negative,” she added. “I know some say this is what sells papers but I do not think negative reporting is all the public wants.”

Steve Williams – Chairman of the Police Federation of England and Wales – said it was a “sad indictment that the media tide had turned against the British bobby”, claiming that public confidence and officer morale was now being affected.

He challenged “the naysayers of British policing to change tack and offer their help” going forward – and called for media outlets to “stop badmouthing bobbies”.

In an interview with PoliceOracle.com, Mr Williams added: “The effect that negative publicity is having on public confidence as well as officers’ morale has been playing on my mind for some time.

“You only have to look at the recent National Police Bravery Awards to see what officers are doing on a daily basis, and most accept it as part and parcel of what they do.

“But the negativity in reporting that we have been seeing has not done anybody in the service any favours. The confidence of the public is drifting away and that cannot be good.”

Mr Williams accepted that there were negative stories that needed to be reported but that the constant bad press was demoralising. “There is so much good policing going and you have to ask why that should not be celebrated,” he added.

Press coverage ‘hitting morale’ (£..)