HC Deb 22 February 1962 vol 654 cc74-5W
69. Mr. Prentice

asked the Secretary of State for the Home Department whether he will take steps to prohibit newspapers from publishing the name, address or any other details calculated to lead to the identification of a child who has been the victim of a sexual assault, whether or not an arrest has been made.

Mr. R. A. Butler

Children under 17 years of age are safeguarded by statute from harmful publicity as a consequence of court proceedings, and newspapers usually exercise a sensible discretion in publishing particulars before a case reaches court. It may occasionally be desirable that particulars which could identify a child who has been the victim of a sexual offence should be published as an aid to the detection of the offender, and I am not satisfied that there is a case for legislation such as the hon. Member suggests.