Fred The Weatherman.

[10ClarionSt]

I am always baffled at the end of court cases when a police officer makes a public statement about the case. This is a relatively new thing. Why do they have to do this when the judge will have made his comments about a case? Are the police allowed to make statements like this prior to sentencing?Surely the case is legally still on-going until sentencing has been handed down? The officer was saying things about Fred Talbot concerning charges that he (Talbot) had been cleared of. It all seems very out of place to me when sentencing hasn't been determined and there could be the possibility of an appeal. The police rushing to publicity seems out of time to me. Surely they should wait until the case is completely finished?

[chaptazbru2]

Is it a relatively new thing though ??

[Maydup]

The case is complete and the verdict decided, just the sentence that awaits.

The work of the investigating officers is over and they are free to give their statements to the press. Its often easier to do that than to refuse and have the press hound the police for a statement.

[jno]

the case is over except for the sentencing, and it can be assumed that the judge won't be swayed by plice claims. But yes, I think this is a newish thing; I don't recall it more than, I don't know , 15 years ago?

[Just-Jude]

They're not so keen to give interviews after they've stitched someone up for a few years.

[nailit]

what Jude ^^ said. Never seen the police giving an interveiw after someone has been cleared of a crime. But then Ive got a bee in my bonnet about the police.