New UK Police Guidance Allows Police To Disclose Suspect Ethnicity In High Profile Cases
Police forces across the UK are now being advised to consider sharing the ethnicity and nationality of suspects in high-profile or sensitive investigations. The new interim guidance, issued by the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing, aims to tackle misinformation and public concern, particularly in cases where false narratives risk sparking unrest. This decision follows criticism that the police had withheld key details in recent cases, including the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in Warwickshire.
The guidance, which has been developed with input from the Crown Prosecution Service and Home Office, stresses that releasing such information should serve a policing purpose like protecting public safety or correcting disinformation and not compromise legal or ethical standards. Police forces will still have the final say on what is shared, while the Home Office will be responsible for confirming any immigration status where appropriate.
Deputy Chief Constable Sam de Reya highlighted the fallout from last summer’s riots as a driving force behind the change. “Disinformation and incorrect narratives can take hold in a vacuum,” she said, warning that a lack of transparency had allowed falsehoods to fuel violence and distrust. Cases like the Southport triple murder and the Warwickshire rape investigation have underscored how misinformation can escalate quickly, especially when spread on social media.
The announcement has received a mixed reaction. While Home Secretary Yvette Cooper and Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson welcomed the shift toward more transparency, others warned of the risks. Former Met officer Dal Babu cautioned that the guidance could create unrealistic expectations and increase tensions if not applied consistently. Still, many agree that clarity and consistency in police communication is overdue in today’s fast-moving information landscape.
