Home Secretary Theresa May has urged police forces to adopt a policy of not naming arrested suspects until they are charged, except in exceptional circumstances. In a letter to the College of Policing, May stated that there should be a right to anonymity at arrest, but acknowledged cases where public interest may justify disclosure, such as threats to life or crime prevention.
The call comes as the Association of Police Officers (Acpo) finalises new guidance on police-media engagement. A draft of the guidance, due for approval next week, recommends that names of arrested or suspected individuals should not be released unless exceptional circumstances apply. However, senior officers maintain that suspects should be named upon charge.
The proposed guidelines have sparked debate, with some journalists and former Metropolitan Police commissioner Lord Blair arguing that naming suspects can encourage victims to come forward. Chief Constable Andy Trotter of the British Transport Police, who authored the guidelines, countered that naming all arrestees risks tarnishing innocent reputations, noting that 1.2 million people are arrested annually in England and Wales.
Trotter criticised forces that fail to name individuals after charge, citing Warwickshire Police's refusal to name a former officer charged with theft. The Society of Editors argued that naming Stuart Hall upon arrest led to victims coming forward, though Trotter noted Hall was charged within hours. The College of Policing's Alex Marshall acknowledged the need to balance innocence presumption with media openness.
