Police gag call for CCTV pictures

Friday, 12 August 2005, 13:59

Sky News’ Nick Pollard says the BBC is mad for continuing to use the CCTV images of the men suspected of attempting to carry out the London bombings on its web site.

Mad? No, just doing the sensible thing. The BBC is defying a police request not to show the pictures, which were originally issued by the police and are now available from web sites all over the world, because showing them in Britain might compromise the fairness of their trial.

A police request can’t result in contempt of court charges, but this could change if the Attorney General or the court issues a gag order, it could happen.

The London bombings have for the past few weeks demonstrated how the freedom of the UK media is routinely constrained by Britain’s antiquated contempt of court law.

Entry Filed under: London