§ 2.49 p.m.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, I beg leave to ask the Question which stands in my name on the Order Paper.
§ [The Question was as follows:
§ To ask Her Majesty's Government whether they do not think the pinpointing of names in the Press of police Officers, or detectives, may impede the prosecution of those believed to be in breach of the laws; also whether secrecy is self-evidently a part of security when acting against opponents.]
§ THE JOINT PARLIAMENTARY UNDER-SECRETARY OF STATE, HOME OFFICE (LORD STONHAM)My Lords, the extent to which the names of police officers are disclosed to the Press is a matter left to the discretion of individual chief officers of police. I understand that the Commissioner of Police of the Metropolis considers that, in general, the advantages of disclosing the names of officers in charge of cases greatly outweigh the disadvantages, particularly where the police can be helped by receiving information from the public; but that, where it is undesirable for names to be disclosed, steps are taken to ensure anonymity.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, may I ask a supplementary question? The noble Lord talked about the Metropolitan Police authority, but I did not understand him to say whether other police authorities have the same view as the Metropolitan authorities.
§ LORD STONHAMMy Lords, I was quoting the views of the Metropolitan Commissioner; and, of course, he is responsible for a number of very important cases. But when it comes to the smaller police forces, if the names of the 403 police were to be withheld it would create an impossible situation, because in court cases the names of the police have to be disclosed. Indeed, the difficulty of suppressing the names (quite apart from implication involving the freedom of the Press) would be even greater in small forces than in the Metropolis.
§ THE EARL OF ALBEMARLEMy Lords, I thank the noble Lord for his answer.