Shot in the head and foot

There's realworld. Then there's mediaworld. In the former, London's Metropolitan Police force has done a difficult, unsung job trying to protect the capital's citizens from the terrorists. Unfortunately, on Friday, they shot a man. Fact. He was shot five times in the head at point blank range. Fact. On the day, the Met said the man was directly linked to terrorist attacks. Fact. Today they said this was false. That's sometimes how it turns out in realworld. We know the Met isn't perfect. People aren't perfect. But, in mediaworld, it's unlikely the Met will come out of this well. No-one will point out the pressure the media puts the Met under to deliver a result. They will just say the Met shot itself in the foot the day they shot a young man in the head. True. But that won't help. Mediaworld needs to show restraint and understand that the effects in realworld will be manifold. It will delight the terrorists. The Met's job will become much harder. Their morale will be lowered. They will be made to operate with greater restrictions. If the young man turns out to be Muslim, then the terrorists will be encouraged and may even get more recruits. Innocent Muslims will have their terror doubled. They will become as afraid of the terrorists as they are of the Met. Anticipating the wrath of mediaworld, the Met may well also circle the wagons as they've done before. I encourage them not to. Be honest. Be open. Explain how the mistake happened. Do it quickly. Know the majority still support you. Know they believe you're the best hope for catching these people. If you want mediaworld to represent you accurately, trust them and be frank. OK in realworld, a serious mistake has been made. In mediaworld, it can still be avoided.