APCC statement following judgement in the Sir Cliff Richard case
18/07/2018
Responding to today’s Sir Cliff Richard judgement, APCC Victims Lead, Dame Vera Baird QC said:
“We welcome today’s judgement in which Mr Justice Mann appears to endorse the general principle that a suspect has a reasonable expectation of privacy in relation to a police investigation up to the point of charge – whatever the nature of the allegation.
“We feel that this can only strengthen the College of Policing’s existing guidance which says that police will not name those arrested, or suspected of a crime, save in exceptional circumstances where there is a legitimate policing purpose to do so.
“I am sure that that all Police and Crime Commissioners will welcome the added clarity that this judgement gives the public.”