Clause 2 - Anonymity of defendant in rape etc. cases
Sexual Offences Bill [Lords]
4:15 pm
Miss Julie Kirkbride (Bromsgrove, Conservative)
Maybe I am missing something, but it seems that to do as the hon. Lady suggests and give anonymity before charge ends up with the worst of all worlds. Reporting restrictions before someone has been charged are such that the press can barely say anything other than that someone is being investigated for an offence or has been arrested in connection with an offence. A very limited amount can be said about that person's potential criminal offence. The big problem is the embarrassment factor that causes upset to people when the court case goes into great detail. At the same time, because there is anonymity, other people who may have been raped by that person will not know to come forward because they will not know that the person is being charged with that offence. Therefore, anonymity would inhibit the police's ability to gain evidence to secure an ultimate conviction. I should be grateful for an explanation of why I am wrong in those respects.