How the DET tackled the Gilbert case

Thanks to the advent of immediate response boxes on our internet site, there are more and more comments on the way the Evening Telegraph tackles stories.

We have decided, therefore, to produce a blog which specifically explains how we go about what we do and why we do it.

We shall also strive to answer criticism and queries from our readers.

With this in mind I shall open by addressing the subject of today’s analysis of the Bernard Gilbert manslaughter case.

The brick attack on Mr Gilbert’s house was partly brought about by the passing on of his address to a known criminal by a police officer, Stephen Smith.

When his part was discovered, Smith was arrested and resigned from his job. He was later fined £1,200 for passing on confidential information.

The newspaper was well aware that Derbyshire Police officers were horrified by what Smith had done and that he was working alone.

That thought dictated our thinking to how we approached our coverage following the verdict.

We reprised Smith’s case on our internet site yesterday to demonstrate, for those who missed it, that he had already appeared in court and that the police had acted quickly in dealing with him.

Our coverage in the newspaper was centred around an interview with Detective Superintendent Andy Hough. It gave him very significant space to emphasise that the police have extensive measures to try to prevent an abuse of the system like Stephen Smith’s.

Finally our editorial comment made clear that Smith’s activities should not affect the reputation of Derbyshire Police.

Within it, we wrote: “It is important to recognise that Smith operated alone in his folly, very quickly left the force and it would be unfair to tar all his colleagues with the same brush of shame.’’

Throughout yesterday afternoon we were in close liaison with the police, who understood that it was in the public interest that we demonstrated the link between Smith and Mr Gilbert’s death. We also made sure they had the opportunity to comment extensively on the methods use to catch Smith and, therefore, allow the force to emerge with the credit it deserved for its detection work.

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