Bill to Keep Names of Arrested People Secret Until Charged

This bill would change the law to stop police and media from naming people who have been arrested but not yet charged with a crime. Currently, police can release names of arrested people and newspapers can publish them. The bill would make it illegal to identify arrested people until prosecutors decide to formally charge them. The government says this will protect innocent people from having their reputations damaged before guilt is proven. Critics say this could reduce police accountability and make it harder for other victims to come forward. The law would apply to all arrests in England and Wales. It would not affect cases where someone has already been charged with an offence.

• 1Makes it illegal to name people who are arrested but not charged
• 2Applies to both police announcements and media reporting
• 3Names can only be released once formal charges are brought
• 4Covers all arrests in England and Wales
• 5Government says it protects innocent people's reputations