Attorney general Dominic Grieve has called on police to confirm the identities of arrested suspects if the media has already done so, saying that such a policy ‘makes sense’.
At present a confused stance amongst different forces sees around a third routinely refuse to do so, even where individuals have been charged with criminal offences.
Such reticence is held up as a contributing factor in repeat offending as publicity often encourages more victims to come forward.
Speaking to ITV News Grieve said: “If the press have got to know who somebody is who’s been arrested and are publicising that, then clearly it might be very sensible for the police to confirm that fact.
“It becomes a bit odd if everybody else knows and it’s out in the newspapers but the police are refusing to confirm it."
New guidance given by the College of Policing in the wake of Leveson stipulates should only name suspects before they are charged in exceptional circumstances.