§ Mr. McNamaraTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department under what circumstances police may make public a defendant's prior convictions in cases where anonymity has been granted in a criminal trial. [92109]
§ Mr. George HowarthThe rules of evidence governing the admissibility in criminal proceedings of a defendant's criminal record apply regardless of whether anonymity has been granted in those proceedings.
The law on previous misconduct is currently under consideration by the Law Commission. The Law Commission issued a consultation paper on this subject in July 1996 and their final report is expected early next year.