Minister Promises Media Consultation on Teachers & Children Workforce Reporting Bans

Anonymity orders  to protect not only teachers  but also the wider children’s workforce are proposed by the Schools White Paper published yesterday. The Importance of Teaching announces that: “False allegations can damage  teachers’ career prospects even once disproved… We will legislate to introduce reporting restrictions that prevent a teacher’s identity being revealed until the point at which they are charged with a criminal offence.

We will consider whether these measures should  also be applied to the wider children’s workforce.”

In a letter of 15 November to the NS, responding to its concerns about the proposed Government’s measures to protect teachers, Crispin Blunt, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice has already promised that “as we develop proposals we will do so in discussion with organisations such as yours.

I do recognise the important role of the media to ensure the public are made aware of issues of interest to them, and note the measures you point to as already being in place to protect those accused from being inappropriately identified in the press.”

The Minister also confirmed that no action would be taken to activate the reporting restrictions conferring automatic lifelong anonymity on any under 18 year old  witness, victim or suspect in any crime under investigation, which he had  informed Parliament had also been under consideration during the summer: “With regard to section 44 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999, and also section 45, I am happy to confirm that we have no current plans to implement this legislation.”

• Letter from Ministry of Justice

For further information please contact Santha Rasaiah on 020 7632 7461 or e-mail santha_rasaiah@newspapersoc.org.uk.