The ruling means newspapers can continue to name people charged with a crime
UK media bosses are toasting a 'huge victory' for press freedom after police chiefs ruled that people charged with a crime do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
Proposed changes to the College of Policing’s guidance for reporting crime were set to say cops in England and Wales no longer “should” name those charged with crimes including indecent exposure, domestic violence or child sexual abuse, instead advising that individuals “can be named”. However, the decision has now been U-turned - a move The Society of Editors has welcomed.
Responding, Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society of Editors, said: “The decision by the College of Policing to reject a proposal to grant forces the option or whether or not to name an individual upon charge is a huge victory for press freedom. Open justice remains one of the fundamental cornerstones of our democracy and media reporting not only keeps communities safe, but it also helps ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
The college said on Thursday that amendments to the guidance had been proposed by the Information Commissioner’s Office to take account of evolving data protection law. On Friday, the college held a meeting with the ICO to understand its position and outline the importance of transparency, open justice and the ability of the media to get the information they need to do their job.
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