On Friday 3rd March 2006, the Management Board of the Metropolitan Police Service issued the following statement to all members of staff: ‘Recently the organisation has become aware of a series of web-logs or blogs – where authors – claiming to be police officers – have offered their views on a number of issues in a highly personalised, often controversial manner.’

This statement is followed by ‘guidance’ on writing blogs. In summary, this states that although ‘blogging’ cannot be stopped, the ‘impact of expressing views and opinions that are damaging to the organisation or bring the organisation into disrepute’ must be considered. Disciplinary proceedings may be considered against posters of material that may be (among other things) defamatory, offensive or otherwise inappropriate.

See the demise of the World Weary Detective.