Anonymity in rape trials

Responsible department: Ministry of Justice

The government promised prior to the election that it would investigate whether a defendants identity should remain anonymous until a Guilty verdict.

For no apparent reason the government indicated that it no longer intended to proceed with the investigation.

I feel that in view of the number of men who have been acquitted of the charge after many months of the matter hanging over them, to say nothing of the permanent harm ['no smoke without fire'] to their reputations, no reasonable man or woman would consider the current situation fair.