Open Justice Campaigners Call On Shabana Mahmood To Abandon Plans For Unprecedented Firearms Officers Anonymity Law
Plans for a new law granting police firearms officers facing criminal proceedings a presumption of anonymity have been slammed as an affront to the principles of open justice.
A coalition of media businesses, journalists, advocacy and human rights organisations has written to Shabana Mahmood this week asking the Home Secretary to abandon the “harmful and retrograde measure.
“If brought into force, the measure would ride roughshod over the principles of open justice which underpin public confidence in our policing and judicial system,” the coalition said.
“The ability of media to report on criminal proceedings involving firearms officers would be severely impeded, leaving a vacuum which would be filled by misinformation and rumour. We stress the importance of public interest journalism in underpinning transparency which is essential to public understanding and accountability.”
“The courts already possess powers to grant defendants anonymity where necessary. There is no need for an unprecedented blanket presumption of anonymity in law.”
The provision is contained within the Crime and Policing Bill which is due to be scrutinised by peers in the coming days.
Supporters of open justice fear the measure could open the door to secrecy in other areas of police disciplinary proceedings, ultimately leading to the emergence of secret hearings and closed courts.
It would also mean that officers with the power to exercise lethal force would be less accountable than members of the public facing criminal proceedings.
The letter to the Home Secretary has been signed by the News Media Association, National Union of Journalists, JUSTICE, Society of Editors, Crime Reporters Association, Inquest and the Media Lawyers Association.
The letter adds: “The measure was brought forward as part of a package of reforms designed to rebuild public trust in policing.
“Granting a sweeping presumption of anonymity to firearms officers facing criminal proceedings will do the exact opposite.
“For the sake of transparency, public trust, and open justice, we urge you to reconsider this harmful and retrograde measure.”
The signatories to the letter are:
- Sayra Tekin, News Media Association director of legal
- Laura Davison, National Union of Journalists, general secretary
- Dawn Alford, Executive Director, Society of Editors
- Rebecca Camber, Chair of the Crime Reporters Association
- Deborah Coles, Executive Director, Inquest
- Pia Sarma, Editorial Legal Director of The Times, Chair of the Media Lawyers Association
- Stephanie Needleman, Legal Director, JUSTICE