HC Deb 26 April 1991 vol 189 c560W
Mr. Peter Bottomley

To ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department what restrictions apply to the disclosure of the method of murder or suicide by police officers or other public servants before an inquest or court case.

Mr. Peter Lloyd

Apart from the sub judice rule, there are no legal restrictions on the amount of information about a homicide or suicide which police officers or other public servants can disclose, but they will not want to publicise details which may be of potential use in an investigation and as evidence against a suspect. It is for the courts to decide on the actual cause of death.