A new interim guidance from the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC) and the College of Policing encourages police to disclose suspects’ ethnicity and nationality during high-profile cases to combat disinformation. Policing Minister Dame Diana Johnson expressed support for transparency but acknowledged that misinformation could still arise even with this information release. This comes after criticism of Merseyside Police for not revealing the ethnicity of Axel Rudakabana, who was arrested for a knife attack in Southport, leading to riots fueled by false claims about the suspect’s background. The guidance aims to fill information vacuums that can allow misleading information to spread rapidly. It emphasizes that police should share relevant suspect details when there’s a clear public interest or safety concern but clarifies that investigating authorities retain discretion over what is disclosed.
New Guidance on Suspect Ethnicity May Not Curb Disinformation, Says Policing Minister
By xpectafight
