CHAPTER FIVE

The Next Step

My research has already allowed me to understand more about my job, the workings of the Media and also about how Victims respond to pressure from the Media.

It is my intention to use my research to help produce a number of internal documents for Norfolk Constabulary. These include guidelines on how to deal with the Media. I am also hoping to help Victim Support volunteers to understand how the Media work and what their expectations of victims will be.

Even before the publication of this dissertation my research was already proving of interest. Firstly I was approached by Victim Support to write an article on the subject for their national magazine and it is anticipated that this will be published sometime in 1999. Secondly I have been asked to give a presentation at the National Conference of the Association of Police Press Officers in Cardiff and thirdly I have been asked to give regular presentations at training sessions for new Police Press Officers organised by the above organisation.

I also firmly believe that my work with victims of crime, the Media and the Police has helped me to develop my own rules and code of conduct for dealing both with the Media and with the Victims.

These points include the following:

1/ Offering my services to help victims at a very early stage. I have already made this known to senior officers and they have welcomed the move.

2/ To work alongside the Senior Investigating Officer at major crime. This will help him/her to deal with the Media as well as keep me fully in touch with what is going on.

3/ To treat all victims of crime with kindness and respect and to treat them as individuals. I may have gone through this kind of thing many times, but the people I am facing have not and it is possibly the most traumatic time of their lives.

4/ Not to be personally frightened of allowing the situation to have an effect on me.

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Abstract
Chapter One
Chapter Two
Chapter Three
Chapter Four

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