Policing; UK; "Utterly misguided" name and shame campaign halted
01 March 2003
Essex constabulary's campaign to "name and shame" convicted criminals, came to an abrupt halt in February after the high court found that their plans infringed upon their intended victim's human rights, (see Statewatch vol 12, no. 6). The police force had planned to put up 40 posters in the Brentwood area with the name and photograph of a local man who had been sentenced to three and a half years for burglary and car crime. They argued that the poster campaign would discourage others from crime "and show law-abiding citizens that criminals were being caught". However, Sgt Piers Quinnel, one of those responsible for dreaming-up the scheme, insisted that the intention "is not to humiliate". The high court disagreed with Quinnel and the man's legal representatives won a temporary injunction banning the posters.
Essex police argue that a "risk assessment" had taken into account the impact that the campaign would have had on the man's mental health. The assessment also concluded that it would not make the target's relatives vulnerable to revenge attack. However prisoner's advice groups have castigated the campaign as "utterly misguided". Lucy Gampell, of Action for Prisoners' Families, described it as "a serious infringement on the right to privacy for the family of the prisoner". She added, "The real victims of this initiative will be the family members of this offender and other families to be named in future campaigns". An Essex police spokesman said that the force, "is considering its position". Plans to extend the name and shame campaign to forces in London, Greater Manchester and Sussex have been put on hold.
Police Review 7.2.03; Guardian 3.2.03.