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PM backs Theresa May over right to anonymity of criminal suspects PM backs Theresa May over right to anonymity of criminal suspects
(4 months later)
David Cameron has given strong backing to the home secretary, Theresa May, over her new approach to police forces who refuse to publish or confirm the names of crime suspects when they are arrested or charged.David Cameron has given strong backing to the home secretary, Theresa May, over her new approach to police forces who refuse to publish or confirm the names of crime suspects when they are arrested or charged.
May has told the police that there should be "a right of anonymity" for a crime suspect when they are arrested but they should be named if and when they are subsequently charged with an offence.May has told the police that there should be "a right of anonymity" for a crime suspect when they are arrested but they should be named if and when they are subsequently charged with an offence.
In a letter to the new College of Policing, which now sets national police standards and policies, she says she is concerned that some forces have refused to name suspects who have been charged. Such secrecy, she says, "undermines transparency in the criminal justice system and risks the possibility that witnesses and other victims might not come forward".In a letter to the new College of Policing, which now sets national police standards and policies, she says she is concerned that some forces have refused to name suspects who have been charged. Such secrecy, she says, "undermines transparency in the criminal justice system and risks the possibility that witnesses and other victims might not come forward".
Her intervention follows the recent refusal by Warwickshire police to confirm the name of a police officer charged with stealing £113,000. The force initially said that it had changed its rules in the wake of the Leveson inquiry but dropped its policy after an outcry and named the man.Her intervention follows the recent refusal by Warwickshire police to confirm the name of a police officer charged with stealing £113,000. The force initially said that it had changed its rules in the wake of the Leveson inquiry but dropped its policy after an outcry and named the man.
A survey by the Daily Mail last week found that 14 out of 43 police forces in England and Wales will only name suspects the day before they are due to appear in court.A survey by the Daily Mail last week found that 14 out of 43 police forces in England and Wales will only name suspects the day before they are due to appear in court.
In her letter, May says: "I strongly believe that there should be no right to anonymity at charge apart from in extremely unusual circumstances. I believe there should be a right to anonymity at arrest, but there will be circumstances in which the public interest means an arrested suspect should be named. I would like you to work on new guidance that makes this clear."In her letter, May says: "I strongly believe that there should be no right to anonymity at charge apart from in extremely unusual circumstances. I believe there should be a right to anonymity at arrest, but there will be circumstances in which the public interest means an arrested suspect should be named. I would like you to work on new guidance that makes this clear."
The home secretary goes on to tell the police that, despite a widespread assumption to the contrary, Lord Leveson's inquiry on the press made no substantive recommendations about anonymity.The home secretary goes on to tell the police that, despite a widespread assumption to the contrary, Lord Leveson's inquiry on the press made no substantive recommendations about anonymity.
Critics of the proposed police guidelines, including Liberty and Index on Censorship, have warned about a "blanket policy of arresting people in secret".Critics of the proposed police guidelines, including Liberty and Index on Censorship, have warned about a "blanket policy of arresting people in secret".
They have also been warnings that sex offenders such as the BBC's Stuart Hall would not have been brought to justice if victims had not come forward after publicity about his initial arrest.They have also been warnings that sex offenders such as the BBC's Stuart Hall would not have been brought to justice if victims had not come forward after publicity about his initial arrest.
The guidance from the College of Policing will replace that developed previously by the Association of Chief Police Officers. The latest Acpo statement cautions forces against confirming the details of an arrested individual when journalists have gathered the name from other sources.The guidance from the College of Policing will replace that developed previously by the Association of Chief Police Officers. The latest Acpo statement cautions forces against confirming the details of an arrested individual when journalists have gathered the name from other sources.
In New York, the prime ministerCameron said he had spoken with May about this and agreed with the stance she is taking: "It is a very difficult balance to get right. On the one hand making public the details of an arrest can help to bring forward evidence and bring forward potential victims. Therefore it is in the public interest," he told journalists in New York.In New York, the prime ministerCameron said he had spoken with May about this and agreed with the stance she is taking: "It is a very difficult balance to get right. On the one hand making public the details of an arrest can help to bring forward evidence and bring forward potential victims. Therefore it is in the public interest," he told journalists in New York.
"Sometimes it is right to respect the privacy of the individual because the publicity around these sorts of arrests can be life changing. So it is very difficult. There is no simple answer to this," said Cameron."Sometimes it is right to respect the privacy of the individual because the publicity around these sorts of arrests can be life changing. So it is very difficult. There is no simple answer to this," said Cameron.
He cited the case of Christopher Jefferies, the retired teacher who was vilified by the press after his wrongful arrest for the murder of Joanna Yeates, as an example of "some terrible events that have taken place" as a result of naming crime suspects on arrest: "I have seen Theresa's work on this and agree with the stance she is taking," said the prime minister.He cited the case of Christopher Jefferies, the retired teacher who was vilified by the press after his wrongful arrest for the murder of Joanna Yeates, as an example of "some terrible events that have taken place" as a result of naming crime suspects on arrest: "I have seen Theresa's work on this and agree with the stance she is taking," said the prime minister.
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