Should the police make general comments about cases?

[10ClarionSt]

There seems to be a trend now with the police that after every high profile case where there has been a conviction, a senior officer will give a press conference and comment on the evil or something else about the convicted person. We saw it this week with the Shannon Matthews case and the case of the guy who was found guilty of bigamy. Should police officers take on the role of social commentators like this? There job is to detect crime not to be akin to newspaper columnists. Sure, they've done a good job, but what is the point of the Police making these comments? Anyone who's followed the proceedings will know all that anyway. What are they up to?

[weeal]

I wouldnt think they are 'up to' anything, just replying to the press when asked - nowadays everything gets commented on, we see televised warzones etc, I dont see why they shouldnt make a comment if asked, theyre the ones who know more than the newspapers do

[Rollo]

A police office is as entitled to express an opinion, after the case is finished, as you or I are.

[weeal]

I think everyones job descriptions are changing and theyre prob doin at least two jobs in one like most of us, I read that most new recruits attend a press conference course when they start

[123everton]

I'd never really thought about it until now, I'll start looking at it more closely.
To be fair I'm not sure Karen Matthews is pure evil, horrible, disgusting and despicable but pure evil?
I can think of worse people than her.