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Police in England and Wales are now being told they “should” reveal the nationality and ethnicity of criminal suspects in high-profile cases—but the wording stops short of making it compulsory, leaving forces free to keep such details secret.
The new guidance from Britain’s National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and College of Policing comes after a series of high-profile rows over withheld facts in serious crimes, including the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in the town of Nuneaton, central England, and last year’s knife killings in Southport, near Liverpool. Until now, forces have usually given little more than a suspect’s age and arrest location.
Under the new rules, when a suspect is charged, nationality and ethnicity should be added to the name and address—“unless there is a very good reason not to.” That caveat means the public could still be left in the dark.
UK policing minister Diana Johnson said the aim is to be “as transparent and as open as possible” while avoiding any risk of prejudicing trials. The guidance takes effect immediately.
The Nuneaton case has been especially controversial. Two men, Ahmad Mulakhil and Mohammad Kabir, both 23, are accused of offences against the same 12-year-old girl. Local councillors were told about the arrests but ordered not to reveal the men’s alleged immigration status to avoid “inflaming community tensions.” George Finch, a local political leader from the Reform UK party, says police warned him that stating they were asylum seekers could lead to contempt of court charges. Warwickshire Police denies any cover-up but confirmed it would not disclose immigration status.
The row mirrors the handling of the Southport killings, where weeks of official silence on the attacker’s background fuelled online speculation and unrest. Police have shown they can release such information quickly when they wish: in May, Merseyside Police revealed within hours that the suspect in a car-ramming during Liverpool Football Club’s victory parade was a white British man.
Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, the NPCC’s ethics lead, said: “Disinformation and incorrect narratives can take hold in a vacuum. It is good police work for us to fill this vacuum with the facts about issues of wider public interest.” The updated guidance is meant to stop social media filling the gap with rumours—but the “should” wording still gives forces a way to withhold details.
Britain’s Law Commission is also reviewing contempt-of-court rules after Prime Minister Keir Starmer called for more flexibility over what information can be shared without jeopardising trials. Emily Spurrell, of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, supported the change, saying police must keep the public informed “as far as is possible” while protecting the right to a fair trial.
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