In a bid to combat the spread of misinformation and potential threats to public safety, police across the UK are calling for more freedom to release details of criminal investigations, particularly when it comes to high-profile cases.
The push comes as three major national policing bodies, the National Police Chiefs’ Council, College of Policing, and Counter Terrorism Policing, have submitted their views to a review of the contempt of court laws, arguing that a “tipping point” should be identified at which the need to release certain information outweighs the risk of prejudicing a trial.
This follows the backlash over the July Southport knife attack, when misinformation about the attacker snowballed on social media. Merseyside Police were criticised for not quickly countering false claims that the perpetrator was an asylum seeker or an Islamist extremist, which contributed to riots and violent protests across the UK.
Under current laws, police are restricted from sharing specific details of criminal investigations before a trial, to avoid affecting the fairness of proceedings. However, authorities argue that, in some cases, withholding details can contribute to misinformation that increases the risk of disorder or violence.
In the Southport case, for example, the police were initially silent on key details about Axel Rudakubana, the man later convicted of the murders of three young girls, despite false claims circulating online. The lack of early police communication allowed a dangerous narrative to spread unchecked, fuelling riots and hate attacks across the country.
“We would welcome recognition of the role unchecked misinformation and disinformation about high-profile criminal incidents, that rightly concern the public, can have in creating a febrile environment where the risks of disorder breaking out is higher,” read the submission from the police bodies.
The policing bodies argue that more flexibility is needed in the system to release information when public safety is at risk and when the risk of disorder could result in violence.
The submission also pointed to the situation in Austria, where police shared significant details with the public about a terror plot foiled in August 2024, including details about the suspects’ nationalities, employment, and ideological motivations. The police note that the public in the UK might question why information is shared so freely in other countries, but not in the UK.
The review into the laws governing the publication of information during ongoing investigations is expected to spark significant debate over the balance between protecting the integrity of a trial and ensuring public safety.
The police are also urging for a tougher stance on those in public office who use their platforms to spread conspiracy theories and fuel public distrust, potentially making it harder for authorities to control misinformation.
As the debate continues, the question remains whether increased transparency in certain cases can help maintain public safety or whether it risks undermining the fairness of trials.
