| Those charged with an offence – including those who receive a summons to court – should be named, unless there is an exceptional and legitimate policing purpose for not doing so or reporting restrictions apply. This information can be given at the point of charge. A decision not to name an individual who has been charged should be taken in consultation with the CPS. Forces should proactively release charging information where the crime is of a serious nature, such as rape or murder, where the incident has already been reported in the media or on social media sites, or for public reassurance reasons. | This includes those who receive a summons to court. Those charged with an offence can be named at the point of charge. The naming of individuals on charge is encouraged on the grounds of open justice and transparency. This should be done on a case by case basis to ensure that data protection compliance is considered and the necessity and justifications for each disclosure are documented. The ICO’s data sharing hub provides further information. Forces should be more inclined to release charging information where the crime is of a serious nature, such as rape or murder, where the incident has already been reported in the media or on social media sites, or for public reassurance reasons. In some instances, it may not be appropriate to name those charged, for example where there is an exceptional and legitimate policing purpose for not doing so or reporting restrictions apply. |
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