§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department on how many occasions a police officer has breached the Police Code of Conduct through unauthorised disclosure of information on a suspect since 1973. [138280]
§ Ms BlearsInformation concerning the number of occasions a police officer has breached the Police Code of Conduct through unauthorised disclosure of information on a suspect since 1973 is not held centrally and could be obtained only at disproportionate cost.
§ Mrs. Curtis-ThomasTo ask the Secretary of State for the Home Department when the amendments by the Association of Chief Police Officers to their media and disciplinary guidelines on the subject of anonymity for suspects will be completed. [138281]
§ Ms BlearsThe amendments by the Association of Chief Police Officers (ACPO) to their media and disciplinary guidelines have been completed. They give greater prominence to the issue of anonymity and underline that suspects should not be named before charge. They go on to highlight the possible dangers of doing so in that not only is there the risk of causing irreparable damage to a suspect's reputation, but also because unwarranted disclosure could leave a force open to civil proceedings. ACPO promulgated these guidelines to all forces in mid-October 2003.