Your Right to Privacy from the Media
The Home Office ‘Victims of Crime’ leaflet states that for the purposes of investigating an offence, catching criminals or for crime prevention, the police may release details of your case to the press, and that if you are concerned about this happening, you should let the police know.
If you have been raped or sexually assaulted the Sexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992 means it is a criminal offence for anyone to publish your name, address, photograph or other details which may identify you.
The Press Complaints Commission’s Code of Practice states that the press must not identify children under the age of 16 who are involved in cases concerning sexual offences, whether as victims or as witnesses, and must not allow them to be identified by stating that a child is related to a named offender.
Whilst the media has a right to freedom of expression under Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, these rights have to be balanced with your right, as a victim of crime to respect for your private and family life under Article 8 of the Convention.
