Media Advisory
Advice from the Attorney General not to identify victims in sexual offence cases
The Crown Prosecution Service has been asked to consider whether any criminal offences have been committed in regards to identifying the victim in the case pertaining to Ched Evans.
The Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC MP, would like to remind editors, publishers and social media users that identifying a victim in a sexual offences case is a criminal offence and could be subject to prosecution.
Quote from the Attorney General, Jeremy Wright QC MP:
Victims in sexual offence cases are entitled to lifelong anonymity and should not be named or identified publicly.
Anyone who is involved in the identification of a victim risks being prosecuted.
All complaints made to my office where a victim’s identity is supposedly revealed – whether it’s on social media, on websites or in newspapers will be investigated”.
Ends
Background: Section 1 of the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 provides that complainants in sexual offence cases are entitled to lifelong anonymity in the media and should not be identified in a written publication available to the public or a relevant programme for reception in England and Wales. Section 5 makes it an offence to breach these provisions. A prosecution may be brought only by, or with the consent of, the Attorney General.