Closed petition Prohibit the publication of names of defendants before conviction

Closed on 20 April 2022

The Government should ban anyone from naming the defendant/s in a criminal trial or investigation until they have been tried and convicted of an offence.

We are seeing an increase in the UK of defendants being named in the media during investigations and trials before they are convicted of any offence. We believe the naming of people before being found guilty and convicted can result in a 'trial by media' and doesn’t allow defendants a fair trial. If named people are found not guilty having been named can also hinder future prospects and affect people’s mental health, with potentially catastrophic consequences.