OPINION - Talking Point: Should suspected criminals be given anonymity?

Home Secretary Suella Braverman has said that she will examine the possibility of providing legal anonymity to suspected criminals before they are charged.

The move would prove a significant change to the criminal-justice system, with the Cabinet minister saying that it would offer protection to suspected criminals and save them from “trial by media”.

Braverman spoke on the issue at a Young Conservatives event in response to an audience member who questioned her on the case of Cliff Richard, who was falsely accused of historical sex offences.

In response, she said: “We have had some high-profile instances where the media circus around a suspect who has not been charged has been devastating.”

Cliff Richard ultimately was awarded general damages of £210,000 in 2018 after a judge ruled that his right to privacy outweighed the BBC’s right to free expression.

She went on to say, “I think coverage of people prior to charge can be very, very damaging, particularly if the charges are not pursued or they’re dropped later on.”

However, Shadow Home Office Minister Jess Phillips cautioned that blanket bans on reporting could create unwelcome outcomes, noting that measures already exist to prevent reckless reporting.

Phillips said: “Victims’ charities are strongly against blanket restrictions as it can make it harder to get other victims to come forward in cases where there are serial offenders and harder to get justice as a result.”

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