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A police chief has pressed the Home Secretary for urgent guidance on what information forces should release to the public after allegations that authorities tried to cover up alleged offences by asylum seekers. The call comes amid growing controversy over police disclosure policies in sensitive cases.
Warwickshire police and crime commissioner Philip Seccombe is demanding fresh national guidance following the charging of two men, reported to be Afghan asylum seekers, with raping a 12-year-old girl in Nuneaton. Critics accused the force of deliberately withholding information about the suspects' immigration status.
Forces face difficult balancing act
Seccombe said forces find themselves in a "difficult position" when deciding what information to disclose in sensitive cases. He explained that police must carefully balance legal safeguards protecting judicial integrity whilst maintaining public order and confidence through transparency.
"Currently police forces are in an invidious position when deciding what can and should be disclosed in sensitive cases, given that the national guidance is silent on both the ethnicity and immigration status of suspects," Seccombe said. He added that whilst criticism comes easily, making these decisions on the ground proves much harder.
Home Secretary promises guidance review
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper responded on Wednesday, saying police should reveal more information about suspects and confirming that guidance was already under review. However, she emphasised that disclosure decisions remain "operational" matters for forces and the Crown Prosecution Service.
"We do think that the guidance needs to change, the College of Policing is already looking at this, and Home Office officials are working with the College of Policing," Cooper said. The review comes as forces face mounting pressure over their information disclosure policies.
Southport case highlights disclosure challenges
The Nuneaton case has reignited debates that emerged after the Southport atrocity committed by Axel Rudakubana in July last year. False rumours spread online claiming the suspect was a Muslim asylum seeker, fuelling riots following the stabbings.
Seccombe stressed the urgent need for revised guidance to provide clarity on what information will be released, when it will be disclosed, and who will make these announcements. He said forces require immediate direction to handle future incidents effectively whilst maintaining public trust.
(PA) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
