Police to reveal ethnicity of suspects after cover-up claims

Nigel Farage suggested that the backgrounds of two men charged in connection with a rape were being concealed

Police forces have been told to share suspects’ ethnicity and nationality after authorities were accused of covering up offences carried out by asylum seekers.

Interim guidance by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing says forces should consider disclosing extra details about suspects charged in particularly high-profile and sensitive investigations.

Usually when a suspect is arrested, police forces in England and Wales only disclose the age of the person and where they were arrested.

Dame Diana Johnson, the policing minister, told Sky News: “We want to be as transparent and as open as possible with the public. We think that is important.”

She noted that names and addresses are already given out when a suspect is charged, and that “we are now saying that should then include nationality and ethnicity unless there is a very good reason not to do so”.

“But we are also very conscious of the need to make sure that anyone going forward to trial, it doesn’t in any way prejudice that trial,” she said.

“We welcome the guidance, we think this is really helpful.”

It comes after two men in Warwickshire were charged in connection with the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton last month.

Ahmad Mulakhil, 23, was charged earlier this month with rape, while Mohammad Kabir, also 23, was charged with kidnap and strangulation.

George Finch, the 19-year-old Reform leader of Warwickshire county council, claimed the two men charged were Afghan asylum seekers, leading Nigel Farage to say there had been a cover-up.

Warwickshire Police previously responded by saying it “did not and will not cover up such criminality”, but confirmed that it “wouldn’t be releasing immigration status” of the suspects.

The issue of revealing suspects’ ethnicities also played a part in last summer’s riots.

In the wake of the Southport killings, Merseyside Police was heavily criticised for allowing a void of information about the perpetrator, Axel Rudakubana, to open. It was filled with misinformation, including that he was a Muslim asylum seeker.

It is hoped the change to guidance, which comes into force immediately, will combat the spread of misinformation on social media.

Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya, the lead for ethics on the NPCC, said: “We saw during last summer’s disorder, as well as in several recent high-profile cases, what the major, real-world consequences can be from what information police release into the public domain.

“We have to make sure our processes are fit for purpose in an age of social media speculation and where information can travel incredibly quickly across a wide range of channels.

“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.”

Police revealed Liverpool suspect was white

In May, Merseyside Police revealed the ethnicity of the driver of a car that ploughed into crowds during Liverpool Football Club’s Premier League victory parade just hours after his arrest.

Keen to avoid unrest, the force said the suspect was a 53-year-old white British man from the Liverpool area just two hours after the incident took place.

The new guidance comes after Sir Keir asked the Law Commission in March to fast-track new contempt of court rules, to allow more information to be released about suspects.

Emily Spurrell, of the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners, said: “I am pleased the NPCC and College of Policing have recognised the need to update guidance for forces in the light of recent high-profile cases.

“(Police and crime commissioners) and deputy mayors act on behalf of the public and it is clear there was a need to review the guidance to address growing public concern.

“We have seen the speed with which mis- or disinformation can spread online and the danger to public safety that can cause, so it is right police keep the public informed as far as is possible whilst preserving a suspect’s right to a fair trial.”