§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department if the Government will adopt the recommendation of the Home Affairs Committee that the statutory reporting restrictions, which preserve the anonymity of victims of sexual offences, are extended to persons accused of historical child abuse. [128358]
§ Paul GogginsThe Government believes that there should be no change in the law relating to anonymity. In our view, informed and strengthened guidance to the police and the media is preferable to any change in legislation. The Police Code of Conduct provides that information which comes into the possession of the police should be treated as confidential. It should not be used for personal benefit and neither should it be divulged to other parties except in the proper course of police duty. Unauthorised disclosure of information on a suspect by a police officer is likely to be considered a breach of this Code. Such a breach would mean that an officer's conduct had not met the appropriate standard for the purposes of the Police (Conduct) Regulations, and disciplinary proceedings might commence. An officer could face dismissal or even prosecution, depending on the circumstances of the case.
We have reached an agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that it will amend its media and disciplinary guidelines to all forces to give greater prominence to the rules that govern the release of information about anyone suspected of, but not yet charged with, an offence. We are working to ensure that the guidelines are consistently and robustly enforced. Similarly, Ministers are in discussion with media representatives to assess how unhelpful or intrusive reporting of such cases can be avoided with a view to amending and strengthening the Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice. An officer could face dismissal or even prosecution, depending on the circumstances of the case. We have reached an 441W agreement with the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) that it will amend its media and disciplinary guidelines to all forces to give greater prominence to the rules that govern the release of information about anyone suspected of, but not yet charged with, an offence. We are working to ensure that the guidelines are consistently and robustly enforced. Similarly, Ministers are in discussion with media representatives to assess how unhelpful or intrusive reporting of such cases can be avoided with a view to amending and strengthening the Press Complaints Commission's Code of Practice.