The College of Policing’s APP guidance on Engagement and Communication places a heavy emphasis on aggressively tackling misinformation and disinformation. When a force disables comments, it abdicates its role as the single source of truth. A comment section vacuum is instantly filled by speculation, rumour, and malicious actors weaponising the silence.

Social media algorithms prioritise two-way interaction and post engagement strength as fundamental ranking factors. Disabling comments instantly strips away a post’s engagement signals, triggering algorithmic penalties. The platform stops serving your content organically, leading to a collapse in overall reach. Simply ‘boosting’ posts will not guarantee your audience sees your content. 

This algorithm suppression creates a direct threat to public safety. When engagement drops, your critical operational content, high-risk missing person appeals, wanted suspects, witness appeals, and urgent crime prevention advice, along with ACT or Run Hide Tell messaging, loses its visibility. Fewer citizens see the posts, directly damaging your ability to encourage behaviour change when time is of the essence.

New NPCC operational guidance recognises that comments can cross the line into explicit abuse, while others carry risks such as prejudicing active court proceedings. Charging statements are a prime example of where disabling comments is justified to safeguard proceedings. Forces must adopt nuance, enabling interaction where it adds value, whilst selectively applying restrictions where risks and demand justify it. However, implementing a blanket ban on comments goes too far; a nuanced approach is what is required.

The NPCC Police Social Media Target Operating Model (TOM) explicitly states that social media must be treated with the same professionalism and consistency as traditional contact channels. The TOM warns that to maintain public confidence, forces must give communities the choice and confidence to engage, report, and interact on their preferred channels. Turning off comments simply fuels the ability for online discourse to move offline.