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A shift in police guidance will see an increased emphasis on revealing the ethnicity and nationality of suspects charged in high-profile and sensitive investigations, according to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC). The aim of this change is to mitigate public safety risks arising from misinformation surrounding incidents with significant public interest. While police forces will retain the authority to decide on disclosing such information, broader legal and ethical considerations will also be taken into account.
In response to the new guidance, a representative from the Home Office expressed support, emphasizing the importance of transparency and consistency in maintaining public trust. The immediate implementation of this guidance is part of a broader review of the College of Policing’s professional practices for media relations. The NPCC clarified that the responsibility of verifying a suspect’s immigration status does not fall upon the police, as it is the Home Office’s prerogative to determine the appropriateness of confirming immigration status in various circumstances.
The rationale behind this guidance shift is to promote a more consistent, fair, and transparent approach in policing, while also effectively tackling potential misinformation and disinformation. Following a series of high-profile incidents, including the case of two Afghan asylum seekers charged with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old in Warwickshire, there has been a recognition of public concerns regarding the handling of sensitive information. The NPCC reiterated the importance of ensuring that police procedures are adaptable to the fast-paced dissemination of information in the digital age.
Previously, police decisions on the disclosure of information to the media were made on a case-by-case basis until 2012. However, heightened caution was observed following Lord Leveson’s report on press ethics, influencing a more restrained approach by police forces in sharing information. While there are no explicit prohibitions in the College of Policing’s media relations guidelines regarding divulging details like nationality, asylum status, or ethnicity of charged individuals, the discretion largely rests with the police force. Recent contrasting instances, such as the disclosure of details in the Liverpool FC celebration incident and the withholding of information on a murder case, underscore the critical impact of information release on public perception and safety
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