Law enforcement authorities instructed to disclose the ethnic origin of accused individuals
New National Guidance Encourages Transparency in Police Reporting of Suspects
The Home Office has announced new national guidance that encourages police forces to disclose the ethnicity and nationality of suspects in high-profile and sensitive cases. This move aims to make policing more consistent, fair, and transparent, addressing public concerns about information gaps that can lead to rumors and social unrest.
The change in guidance follows protests after two men charged over the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton were reported to be Afghan asylum seekers. The media guidance from the College of Policing previously did not mention anything about ethnicity, nationality, or immigration status when a suspect has been charged.
The new guidance comes into force today and requires a policing reason for releasing the information, such as high levels of disinformation, improving public safety, or being in the public interest. It allows police forces to decide whether to release such details, considering ethical and legal implications.
The guidance does not require police to verify a suspect's immigration status, which remains the responsibility of the Home Office. A Home Office spokesperson welcomes the new guidance, stating that public trust requires transparency and consistency from authorities.
The new guidance is likely to face backlash from anti-racism campaigners, who argue that revealing ethnicity and migration status sends a chilling message. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage compared the withholding of information to a "cover-up" reminiscent of what happened after the Southport murders last July, which led to speculation about the suspect's ethnicity and immigration status, fueling riots in many parts of the country.
Warwickshire Police, who handled the Nuneaton case, stated that officers did not and will not cover up such criminality and followed national guidance. They did not confirm the immigration status of the suspects, leading to accusations of a "cover-up" by Reform UK, which the police strongly denied.
The National Police Chiefs' Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing developed the advice in collaboration with the Home Office and the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS). The government has also asked the Law Commission to speed up its review of the law of contempt in relation to pre-trial public statements.
The new guidance marks a shift towards more proactive disclosure of ethnicity and nationality information in charged suspects during sensitive, high-profile investigations, aiming to improve transparency and public trust while considering legal, ethical, and operational factors in each case.
For example, Merseyside Police were quick to disclose the ethnicity and nationality of the suspect in a car incident that ploughed into crowds celebrating Liverpool's Premier League win earlier this year. The police force's prompt and transparent reporting helped to quell rumors and prevent potential unrest.
In summary, the new national guidance encourages police forces to disclose the ethnicity and nationality of suspects in high-profile and sensitive cases, aiming to improve transparency and public trust while considering legal, ethical, and operational factors in each case.
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