Defendant anonymity could be extended, Blunt says

Justice minister Crispin Blunt has said that the government's plan to offer limited anonymity to rape defendants could be extended to young people under 18 involved in criminal investigations.

Blunt told MPs this week that the government was 'minded to strengthen anonymity up to the point of charge' for rape defendants.

'This is consistent with the findings of the Home Affairs Select Committee in 2003 on which the prime minister served and also with the reply he gave to the leader of the opposition at prime minister's questions last month,' he said.

David Cameron told the Commons said that anonymity for rape defendants would not extend to the trial, but be limited to the period between arrest and charge.

Blunt said the MoJ would also examine the question of section 44 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, which had never been implemented.

'This section grants statutory anonymity at the pre-charge stage to persons under 18 years who are involved in criminal investigations, including suspects,' he said.

Blunt said the MoJ would publish an assessment of current research on defendant rape anonymity at the end of the month.

He added that the issue would be treated as a priority, and informal consultations would take place with the media, the police and voluntary organisations in advance of a further announcement in the autumn.