Child victims could be named

Just for Kids Law has condemned a decision this week by Lord Justice Leveson to limit anonymity protections for children in court. 

The charity says it could deter child victims and witnesses, and impede rehabilitation for young offenders. 

Leveson LJ held, in JC, RT v CPS and BBC [2014] EWHC 1041 (QB) that children previously involved in court proceedings can be named in the media after they turn 18. He called on Parliament to “fashion a solution…as a matter of real urgency”. 

He said: “It is truly remarkable that Parliament was prepared to make provision for lifetime protection available to adult witnesses...but not to extend that protection to those under 18 once they had reached the age of majority, even if the same qualifying conditions were satisfied.”

The charity’s director, Shauneen Lambe, described the decision as “damaging and concerning”.

Following the ruling, children will have less protection than vulnerable adults, who are given anonymity for life under the Youth Justice & Criminal Evidence Act 1999, she said.

“The difficulties of encouraging child victims and witnesses to come forward are well recognised, as has been reported by the NSPCC report into the Jimmy Saville scandal. 

“The BBC’s own Child Protection Policy says that children’s best interests are at the heart of everything that they do, but I am not sure children would agree. For a child, knowing that they could be named in the world’s press once they turn 18 could be a real deterrent to their coming forward.”