Staff reporter, Daily Dawn, Dawn TV report
London: British police have been told to release details of the nationality and background of suspects in high-profile and sensitive cases to stop the spread of false information on social media.
After the murder of three young girls in Southport last year, false news spread online that the young suspected killer was an immigrant, which led to riots.
The case has been a source of controversy ever since, and last week, the Reform UK party accused the police of hiding the immigration status of the suspects involved in the alleged rape of a 12-year-old girl in central England.
Later, the Reform leader of a local council alleged that the suspects were refugees, which has once again sparked anti-immigration protests in the country.
However, the police have made it clear that they cannot provide such information due to the current guidelines, as they only allow for sharing details that are necessary to give the accused a fair trial.
Under new guidelines from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing, police forces will now be encouraged to disclose details in such cases to protect the public where false information is being spread.
Deputy Chief Constable Sam De Rea said that in an era of rumours circulating on social media, and especially when information can spread across multiple channels very quickly, our procedures are appropriate to the circumstances.
He added that misinformation and baseless narratives arise where there is no truth, and it is good policing to fill such gaps with facts, especially in matters of public interest.
A Home Office spokesman said they supported the change and would allow the release of relevant immigration information where appropriate in the future.
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