Call for review of law on reporting on suspects

MEDIA organisations have said they will urge the Government to review the law on reporting on people under police investigation after the BBC said it will not challenge a ruling on its legal battle with Sir Cliff Richard.

The 77-year-old singer was awarded £210,000 damages after a judge found the corporation’s coverage of a 2014 police raid on his home in Sunningdale, Berkshire, following a child sex assault allegation was a “very serious” invasion of his privacy.

Mr Justice Mann ruled in Sir Cliff’s favour in July, after a trial at the High Court in London, and refused to grant the BBC permission to appeal.

The BBC said on Wednesday that it would not pursue a challenge at the Court of Appeal, despite saying it believes the judgment “represents a dramatic shift against press freedom”.

Instead the corporation will ask the Government to consider a review of the law on naming people involved in police investigations.

A BBC spokesman said: “We accept the BBC and the rest of the media have a duty to be sensitive to the rights and position of those who are under investigation, and in some cases there will be little public interest in naming individuals.

“However, this ruling will limit the long-standing ability of journalists to report on police investigations – many cases of which have resulted in further complainants coming forward. It will make it harder to scrutinise the conduct of the police and it will undermine the principle of the public’s right to know.

The Society of Editors and the News Media Association said they will also be making representations to the Government regarding the law on naming suspects in criminal investigations.