Police rejecting crime suspects rule change is 'huge victory' for press freedom
25.03.2023 - 16:55
/ manchestereveningnews.co.uk
UK media bosses are toasting a 'huge victory' for press freedom after police chiefs ruled that people charged with a crime do not have a reasonable expectation of privacy.
It means that suspects charged with crimes will continue to be routinely named by newspapers and broadcasters up and down the country, including the Manchester Evening News.
Proposed changes to the College of Policing’s guidance for reporting crime were set to say cops in England and Wales no longer “should” name those charged with crimes including indecent exposure, domestic violence or child sexual abuse, instead advising that individuals “can be named”. However, the decision has now been U-turned - a move The Society of Editors has welcomed.
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“An open, transparent and professional working relationship between the police service and the media is essential to public trust," Chief Constable Andy Marsh, College of Policing CEO, said on Friday (March 24).
“Our guidance to police forces is clear that at the point an individual is charged with a crime, there should be no reasonable expectation of privacy. We believe this is strongly in the public interest and compatible with data protection law.”
Responding, Dawn Alford, executive director of the Society of Editors, said: “The decision by the College of Policing to reject a proposal to grant forces the option or whether or not to name an individual upon charge is a huge victory for press freedom. Open justice remains one of the fundamental cornerstones of our democracy and media reporting not only keeps communities safe, but it also helps ensure that offenders are brought to justice.
“We are glad that common sense has