.Woodstock Police Force Social Media Policy
1. General
In an effort to remain transparent, and to provide open lines of communication to the public, the Woodstock Police Force has adopted a strategic and proactive approach to media relations and public affairs. Social media is an important component to the overall communications strategy, and includes tools such as Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube.
Public perception and confidence is extremely important to the Woodstock Police Force and adopting a social media strategy to provide a more consistent, timely and accurate approach to information sharing is vital to achieving our communication goals.
The Woodstock Police Force endorses the use of social media tools to enhance public collaboration and general information sharing. It is also important to support other Woodstock Police Force goals such as crime prevention, information sharing, public education, and recruitment.
2. Definitions
Strategic Communications Plan: This plan outlines goals, objectives and actions for media relations, communications and public affairs processes for the Woodstock Police Force. It includes proactive and reactive communications strategies, enhancing positive media relations, and creating a social media presence for the Woodstock Police Force.
Social Media Tools: Any social media site in which information can be shared and exchanged. These include, but not limited to, Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, blogs, wikis, and photo/video sharing sites. Pages are developed within these tools to be managed by the Woodstock Police Force.
Post: Content an individual shares on a social media tool, or the act of publishing on a specific site.
Terms of Use: The terms that an individual must abide by in order to use a service. In the case of the Social Media Policy, includes disclaimers as to the types of posts that can be made, and the terms users agree upon in order to share information.
3. Procedure
a. Approved Use of Social Media
1. Social media pages managed by the Woodstock Police Force are approved by the Office of the Chief of Police.
2. All social media pages that are managed by the Woodstock Police Force will have a clearly defined goal statement posted, Terms of Use, and contact information for the Woodstock Police Force clearly displayed.
3. All information posted to Woodstock Police Force sanctioned social media pages will adhere to the policy of Release of Information to the Public, and other policies and guidelines to which the Woodstock Police Force is held, including the NB Police Act and Federal Legislation.
4. The Office of Chief of Police is responsible for all content posted to social media pages.
5. The Office the Chief of Police is responsible to respond to any posting on Woodstock Police Force social media pages.
a. Only responses approved by the Office of the Chief of Police will be posted to Woodstock Police Force social media pages.
b. Members of the Woodstock Police Force will not respond to posts on Woodstock Police Force social media pages using personal social media accounts.
c. Only employees/members of the Woodstock Police Force designated by the Office of the Chief of Police may represent the Force on approved social media sites.
6. Posts that will bring disrepute to the Woodstock Police Force and/or harms the ability of members of the Force to perform their duties will be removed as soon as possible.
Posts may include, but not be limited to:
a. Any comment supporting a criminal offence, or any comment that could be regarded as a criminal offence itself;
b. Any comment attempting to initiate a public complaint. A direct message will also be sent to the complainant informing them of the appropriate methods by which to report a complaint.
c. A clear Terms of Use will outline appropriate use of the Woodstock Police Force social media pages.
b. Terms of Use
All Woodstock Police Force social media pages will clearly display a Terms of Use, accessible to the public. The following statements should be included:
Woodstock Police Force social media pages cannot be used to report a crime. If you would like to report an incident, please phone 325-4601. In case of an emergency, please dial 9-1-1.
1. Comments and post to the Woodstock Police Force social media pages are monitored by the Office of the Chief of Police, during regular business hours; Monday to Friday, from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
2. Public comments and opinions posted to the Woodstock Police Force social media pages are not necessarily supported by the Woodstock Police Force.
3. By posting the Woodstock Police Force social media pages you agree to the Terms of Use.
4. The Woodstock Police Force reserves the right to delete or block individuals at their discretion.
5. The Woodstock Police Force reserves the right to delete any posts at their discretion, including posts that:
i. defame, harass, slander, or threaten the rights of others;
ii. include racist remarks, promote hatred or violence, contain obscenities,
iii. are vulgar, or contain spam or advertising;
iv. have personal information that may violate one's privacy;
v. contain links to inappropriate material; or
vi. include information not belonging to the poster, or copyrighted material.
6. Photographs and videos may only be posted to the Woodstock Police Force social media pages by the Office of the Chief of Police or a designate.
7. All postings are subject to the relevant municipal, provincial and federal law.
8. Woodstock Police Force logos, wordmarks or designs are the sole property of the Woodstock Police Force and cannot be reproduced or distributed without the consent of the Office of the Chief of Police.
9. The Woodstock Police Force is responsible for all postings on relevant social media pages, so therefore, can edit, update or remove any of the Terms of Use at their discretion, without notice.
c. Personal Use
Personal use of social media can have a significant impact on one's reputation. Therefore, personal use of social media by members of the Woodstock Police Force shall adhere to all pertinent WPF and TOW policies as well as the NB Police Act.
