Sex assault suspects should be granted anonymity, new justice secretary says

'People of good character' should not be named until charged, suggests Robert Buckland

Sir Cliff Richard speaks at an event in Westminster, London, to launch a campaign for a ban on naming sexual crime suspects unless they are charged (PA)

Sex crime suspects and others accused of serious offences should remain anonymous until charged if they have a reputation to protect, the new justice secretary has said.

Robert Buckland backed a campaign by singer Sir Cliff Richard and DJ Paul Gambaccini to ban the naming of those arrested on suspicion of rape or other sexual offences.

He told The Times there was a case for "people of good character" remaining anonymous but suspects with previous convictions should be named.

Mr Buckland, a former criminal barrister, told the newspaper: "Let's say you are a reputable local business person who is accused of fraud. Your good name is going to be really undermined by this mere accusation. That might be a meritorious case for anonymity."

But he added: "Let's say you are a person with a list of previous convictions. You've committed offences.

"There is intelligence out there that suggests that other victims might come forward. Is that a case where anonymity should be automatic?"

The comments were welcomed by Daniel Janner, son of the late Lord Janner of Braunstone, who was accused of child sex offences before his death but never prosecuted.

Mr Janner, who founded the pressure group Falsely Accused Individuals for Reform (Fair), said he was "delighted" by the justice secretary's remarks.

"This will introduce fairness into the criminal justice system and is a reform that is long overdue," he told PA.

"I am proud that Fair, with the support of singer Sir Cliff Richard and DJ Paul Gambaccini and others, appears to have changed the laws of this country for the good."

Sir Cliff and Mr Gambaccini were both falsely accused of historical sex offences

A petition launched by Mr Janner aimed to "provide balance in the criminal justice system", avoid suspects becoming "targets of opportunist and deluded claimants" as well as preventing "police searches of the homes of suspects who have not been charged being publicised". It currently has 27,373 signatures.

But Chris Henley, chairman of the Criminal Bar Association, told The Times: "The law must be applied equally whoever you are. Money and apparent status should never be a card that can be played by the powerful to hide behind."