Police forces should consider disclosing the ethnicity and migration status of suspects when they are charged in high-profile and sensitive investigations, according to new official guidance.<\/p>\n
After a row over claims that police \u201ccovered up\u201d the backgrounds of two men charged in connection with the alleged rape of a child, the National Police Chiefs\u2019 Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing have backed plans to release details of nationality when there is a \u201cpolicing purpose\u201d for doing so.<\/p>\n
This could be to reduce the risk to public safety, \u201cwhere there are high levels of mis- or disinformation about a particular incident\u201d, or in cases of significant public interest, senior police said.<\/p>\n
The decision to release new guidance has been praised by a former senior prosecutor, who said it could help counter rumours and disinformation which spread on social media.<\/p>\n
But it will also anger some anti-racist campaigners, who have expressed concern that such proposals could risk framing violence against women and girls as an issue of ethnicity<\/a> instead of misogyny.<\/p>\n The decision comes after Yvette Cooper, the home secretary, urged police to release the details of ethnicity<\/a> last week.<\/p>\n Forces are already encouraged to publicise charging decisions in serious cases, the NPCC said.<\/p>\n Decisions on whether to release this information will remain with forces, an NPCC statement said, with wider legal and ethical considerations.<\/p>\n The Home Office will decide if it is \u201cappropriate in all the circumstances\u201d to confirm immigration status of a suspect, the guidance said.<\/p>\n