BBC calls for review of law to ensure media can name criminal suspects

The BBC has urged the government to launch a legal review to protect the right for criminal investigations to be reported and suspects named.

Announcing that it will not appeal after losing a High Court privacy case brought by Sir Cliff Richard over its coverage of a police raid on his home, the corporation said: “There is a fundamental principle of press freedom at stake here and one upon which we believe Parliament, as our lawmakers, should decide.”

The BBC said an appeal “would inevitably mean an expensive legal cul de sac and one that would simply prolong Sir Cliff’s distress”.

It said in a statement: “Instead the BBC is writing today to ask the Government to consider a review of the law in this important area to protect the right to properly and fairly report criminal investigations, and to name the person under investigation.

The High Court ruled last month that the BBC had breached Sir Cliff’s privacy by broadcasting a police search of his home while he was being investigated over a historical child sexual assault claim.

There is a fundamental principle of press freedom at stake here and one upon which we believe Parliament, as our lawmakers, should decide

BBC statement

Sir Cliff was never arrested and Mr Justice Mann said the corporation had infringed the star’s privacy rights in a “serious and sensationalist way”.

The BBC said the ruling represented a serious blow to press freedom and initially suggested it would appeal.

But The Telegraph reported earlier this month that the BBC had decided it would not take a legal challenge direct to the Court of Appeal. If it were to lose, it would face additional legal costs of around £200,000.

After taking legal advice, the BBC announced on Wednesday it will not appeal.

It said: “Given this advice the BBC will not be appealing. It would inevitably mean an expensive legal cul de sac and one that would simply prolong Sir Cliff’s distress.

“Instead the BBC is writing today to ask the Government to consider a review of the law in this important area to protect the right to properly and fairly report criminal investigations, and to name the person under investigation.

“There is a fundamental principle of press freedom at stake here and one upon which we believe Parliament, as our lawmakers, should decide.”

The 77-year-old singer took legal action against BBC bosses over coverage of a South Yorkshire Police raid on his home  – Credit: Andrew Matthews/PAView photos

The corporation is already facing an estimated legal bill of more than £1.8million after losing the case.

It was also ordered to pay Sir Cliff almost £145,000 in damages, including £20,000 in aggravated damages, over its decision to enter its reporting of a raid on Sir Cliff ‘s home in August 2014 for the Royal Television Society’s scoop of the year.

Newspaper editors and media lawyers warned the Sir Cliff ruling was tantamount to new legislation, while Theresa May said giving suspects anonymity would hamper police investigations.

Telegraph