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Crime Solicitors

Ministers call for anonymity for rape suspects – and a cap on police bail (20 March 2015)

Date: 20/03/2015
Duncan Lewis, Crime Solicitors, Ministers call for anonymity for rape suspects – and a cap on police bail

A report by the Commons Home Affairs Select Committee says that men accused of rape and later acquitted of the charges can face irreparable damage to their lives.

Current law allows rape defendants to be named, while rape victims are allowed to remain anonymous.

The Daily Mail reports that MPs are calling for anonymity for rape suspects until they have been formally charged by police, after several high-profile cases of rape allegations involving media figures and MPs who were later acquitted or not charged after being arrested, questioned by police and named in the media.

Among those who were arrested after rape allegations were made against them are the MP Mark Pritchard and BBC Radio DJ Paul Gambaccini. Both men denied the charges against them – and both were not charged after police dropped the charges against them.

However, they spent months under suspicion of rape and the details of their arrests were made public.

Police have said that if rape suspects are allowed to remain anonymous it might deter victims from coming forward – especially in historic cases of sexual abuse or rape, such as the Jimmy Savile case or cases involving other media personalities convicted of historic charges of sex abuse and rape, including artist and entertainer Rolf Harris and public relations expert Max Clifford.

Following the initial revelations about Jimmy Savile, more women and men came forward with historic allegations of sexual abuse and rape by wellknown public figures and media figures.

Recent allegations have included a police cover-up over alleged illegal sexual activity by wellknown MPs, members of the military and police officers at locations in London, including Elm guest house in Barnes, southwest London – and the luxury residential estate Dolphin Square in Pimlico, south London.

In some cases, the children abused were in care homes or hospitals when they were raped or sexually assaulted.

In May 2010, the coalition government pledged to reintroduce anonymity for those accused of rape – anonymity for rape suspects was dropped in 1988.

The government faced opposition to reintroducing anonymity for suspects in rape cases, however, and the law was not changed.

The Commons Home Affairs Select Committee is now calling for anonymity to be reintroduced for rape suspects, saying that it is “unacceptable” that suspects have their identities publicised before they are charged.

Chair of the committee Keith Vaz MP said:

“Police use of the “flypaper” practice of arresting someone – leaking the details, then endlessly re-bailing them in the vague hope that other people come forward – is unacceptable and must come to an end.

“It is inexcusable that information about suspects is released to the media in an un-attributed way.

“We have seen how destructive this can be to a person’s livelihood, causing irreparable reputational damage and enormous financial burden.

“Suspects deserve to remain anonymous until charged.”

The committee has also called for police bail to be capped initially at 28 days, to prevent police officers leaving suspects in “legal limbo” – which can sometimes continue for years before a case is dropped or charges are brought.

Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers are available 24/7, 365 days a year to advise at any stage of a criminal charge, including charges relating to sexual offences, including rape, sexual assault, child abuse, child grooming, prostitution, revenge porn – and making, distributing or downloading indecent images.

Duncan Lewis crime lawyers are a leading legal aid solicitor and are also able to advise on allegations of historic sexual offences.

There are Duncan Lewis offices nationwide and a criminal defence lawyer can usually be with you within an hour for representation during police interview under caution.

For expert legal advice on all criminal charges, call Duncan Lewis crime lawyers on 020 7923 4020.

For out-of-hours criminal law advice and representation, call the Duncan Lewis Crime Lawyers Out-of-Hours Hotline on 07920 077057.


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