An anonymous bobby who published a controversial blog about his job with the Lancashire police, attracting legions of followers, has lost his court appeal to keep his identity under wraps.
Author of the award-winning NightJack blog, DC Richard Horton, has been handed a written warning from his employers, the Lancashire Constabulary, and his blog has also been removed.
The Times tracked down the author of the blog, which courted controversy by savagely attacking the policing system, criticising government ministers and revealing sensitive information about serious crimes.
The blog racked up as many as 500,000 readers a week at its peak and Horton initially kept The Times at bay by getting a temporary injunction preventing the paper from making his identity public.
Many bloggers have already spoken out against the lifting of the injunction, saying that anonymity of cyberspace allowed them to voice their opinions about their work without risking recriminations from colleagues or losing their jobs.
However, the PR industry is broadly welcoming the decision with caution.
Given the sensitive nature of police work the decision is entirely appropriate. But the wider issue to consider is the potential damage that bloggers can cause to the reputation of their employers.
Brands should be entitled to know the identity of any disgruntled employee that is blogging about them. That way, the company has the opportunity to enter into dialogue with the blogger and find a suitable resolution.
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