Anyone with an IQ of at least 2 digits will make the association of "ash" with "aircraft accident" at the moment. We've all seen the interviews with Moody. To say "It is too early to say whether ash was a factor but it will form part of the investigation" is a correct and perfectly reasonably thing to say, and all one can possibly say to stop people rushing to conclusions.
I don't think that is "crap", nor is is sloppy journalism.
Neither the Hampshire Police spokesman nor the Beeb are likely to be expert enough to say "we can rule out volcanic ash as a factor", and frankly neither am I. Perhaps you guys are?