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Pritchard calls for rape anonymity laws to be reviewed after case dropped Pritchard calls for rape anonymity laws to be reviewed after case dropped
(about 4 hours later)
The Conservative MP Mark Pritchard has called for a review of laws handing anonymity to sexual assault complainants after Scotland Yard said he would face no further action over a rape allegation. The Conservative MP Mark Pritchard has called for a review of laws that grant anonymity to sexual assault complainants after Scotland Yard said that he would face no further action over a rape allegation.
Pritchard, the MP for The Wrekin, in Shropshire, attacked the “vindictive and outrageous story” that led to his high-profile arrest on 2 December. Detectives have dropped the investigation due to insufficient evidence. Pritchard, the MP for The Wrekin, in Shropshire, attacked what he described as the “vindictive and outrageous story” that led to his high-profile arrest on 2 December. Detectives have dropped the investigation because of insufficient evidence.
Pritchard said outside the House of Commons: “Sadly, as an MP, sometimes you have a target on your back. Of course she remains anonymous. The law on anonymity does need to be reviewed and fairness does need to play a far greater role in these cases.” Outside the House of Commons, Pritchard told reporters: “Sadly, as an MP, sometimes you have a target on your back. Of course, she remains anonymous. The law on anonymity does need to be reviewed and fairness does need to play a far greater role in these cases.”
His accuser’s identity is protected for life under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.His accuser’s identity is protected for life under the Sexual Offences Act 2003.
Asked whether David Cameron would back Pritchard’s call for a review of the rules on anonymity in sex cases, the prime minister’s official spokesman said: “The government doesn’t take that view. The government’s position is unchanged.” The prime minister’s official spokesman, asked whether David Cameron would back Pritchard’s call for a review of the rules on anonymity in sex cases, said: “The government doesn’t take that view. The government’s position is unchanged.”
Pritchard’s arrest emerged after a letter from the Metropolitan police to the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, about it was referred to on a publicly available Commons order paper. Pritchard’s arrest emerged after a letter about it from the Metropolitan police to the Commons Speaker, John Bercow, was referred to on a publicly available Commons order paper.
Pritchard declined to answer questions from journalists about the Speaker’s role in the matter but said he was pleased to announce he would face no further action.Pritchard declined to answer questions from journalists about the Speaker’s role in the matter but said he was pleased to announce he would face no further action.
“The last few weeks have been a testing time, I’m glad it’s all over,” he said. “I would like to thank the Metropolitan police and Crown Prosecution Service for their thoroughness, attention to detail and professionalism. Most of all I would like to thank my friends in and outside of parliament and my constituents who have kindly emailed, telephoned and written to me offering their support. To be falsely accused of anything is an awful thing.” “The last few weeks have been a testing time. I’m glad it’s all over,” he said. “I would like to thank the Metropolitan police and Crown Prosecution Service for their thoroughness, attention to detail and professionalism. Most of all, I would like to thank my friends in and outside of parliament and my constituents who have kindly emailed, telephoned and written to me offering their support. To be falsely accused of anything is an awful thing.”
The MP has kept a relatively low profile since his arrest, and his official website has not been updated since 9 December.The MP has kept a relatively low profile since his arrest, and his official website has not been updated since 9 December.
This week Nigel Evans, the former deputy speaker who was cleared by a jury of rape and sexual assault, raised concerns about how Pritchard’s name came into the public domain in connection with the allegation. Nigel Evans, the former deputy speaker who was cleared by a jury of rape and sexual assault, raised concerns this week about how Pritchard’s name had come into the public domain in connection with the allegation.
“I am surprised about how the information got into the public domain. I am a little bemused as to why it appeared on the order paper like that. I don’t think this information should be released before charge,” he said. “I am surprised about how the information got into the public domain,” he said. “I am a little bemused as to why it appeared on the order paper like that. I don’t think this information should be released before charge.”
A Metropolitan police spokeswoman declined to name Pritchard, but said: “A 48-year-old man voluntarily attended a north London police station on Tuesday 2 December 2014 where he was arrested, following an allegation of rape in central London. A Metropolitan police spokeswoman declined to name Pritchard, but said: “A 48-year-old man voluntarily attended a north London police station on Tuesday, 2 December 2014, where he was arrested following an allegation of rape in central London. He returned on bail on Tuesday, 6 January 2015, where he was informed that he will face no further action as there is insufficient evidence.”
“He returned on bail on Tuesday 6 January 2015, where he was informed that he will face no further action as there is insufficient evidence.” Last September, Pritchard said he had been targeted by a journalist as part of the sting that brought down the Tory minister Brooks Newmark. He said he had been contacted by a male freelance reporter who, using Twitter, adopted the false identity of Sophie Wittams, supposedly a “twentysomething Tory PR girl”.
Last September Pritchard said he had been targeted by a journalist as part of the sting that brought down the Tory minister Brooks Newmark. He said he had been contacted by a male freelance reporter who, using Twitter, adopted the false identity of “Sophie Wittams”, supposedly a “twentysomething Tory PR girl”.
Last month, Pritchard withdrew his complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) and said he had agreed a confidential settlement.Last month, Pritchard withdrew his complaint to the Independent Press Standards Organisation (Ipso) and said he had agreed a confidential settlement.
Pritchard reportedly divorced his wife of 15 years, Sonya, last year. He had employed her as his office manager. Pritchard reportedly divorced his wife of 15 years, Sondra, last year. He had employed her as his office manager.
A former marketing communications director, Pritchard ran his own consultancy advising blue-chip companies before entering parliament. He began his political career as a Conservative councillor on Harrow London borough council between 1993 and 1994. A former marketing communications director, Pritchard ran his own consultancy, advising blue-chip companies, before entering parliament. He began his political career as a Conservative councillor on Harrow London borough council in 1993 and 1994.
In 2001, he stood for election as the Tory candidate for Warley in the West Midlands but was defeated by Labour’s John Spellar. He was elected to represent The Wrekin in 2005, defeating the incumbent Labour MP, Peter Bradley, by 942 votes.In 2001, he stood for election as the Tory candidate for Warley in the West Midlands but was defeated by Labour’s John Spellar. He was elected to represent The Wrekin in 2005, defeating the incumbent Labour MP, Peter Bradley, by 942 votes.
Since entering Westminster, he has sat on a number of parliamentary groups – chiefly concerning the armed forces – and was joint secretary of the Conservatives’ 1922 committee from 2010-12. He is a member of the UK joint national security strategy committee, which considers the threat posed to Britain by terrorism, cyberwar, global military crises and natural disasters.Since entering Westminster, he has sat on a number of parliamentary groups – chiefly concerning the armed forces – and was joint secretary of the Conservatives’ 1922 committee from 2010-12. He is a member of the UK joint national security strategy committee, which considers the threat posed to Britain by terrorism, cyberwar, global military crises and natural disasters.
In 2010 Pritchard was at the centre of a political storm when he confronted Bercow, yelling: “You are not fucking royalty, Mr Speaker!” after the latter had told him to stand aside in a corridor.In 2010 Pritchard was at the centre of a political storm when he confronted Bercow, yelling: “You are not fucking royalty, Mr Speaker!” after the latter had told him to stand aside in a corridor.