What are the rules around police giving out a suspect's nationality?

What are the rules around police giving out a suspect's nationality?

Daniel Sandford, a UK correspondent, reported that Ministers are urging police to increase transparency regarding the nationalities of individuals who are charged. The regulations surrounding this issue involve considerations of laws on contempt of court and the guidance provided by the College of Policing.

The contempt of court laws aim to ensure that suspects receive a fair trial by prohibiting the disclosure of information that could compromise the integrity of future legal proceedings. Generally, revealing the nationality of a charged individual does not violate these laws. On the other hand, the College of Policing’s guidelines on media relations have become more stringent since 2012, as a result of concerns raised in Lord Leveson’s report on press ethics.

According to the College of Policing’s guidance, when a suspect is arrested but not yet charged, only limited details such as gender and age should be disclosed to the media. Once formal charges are laid, additional information including the suspect’s name, date of birth, and address can be shared. Notably, the guidance does not explicitly address the disclosure of nationality or asylum status.

In response to recent cases, questions have been raised about the level of transparency surrounding suspect information. Reform UK leader Nigel Farage criticized what he perceived as a lack of disclosure, while Home Secretary Yvette Cooper advocated for greater openness, particularly concerning nationality and asylum issues. Ultimately, decisions regarding the release of information about suspects remain at the discretion of individual police forces

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