Anonymity for firearms officers will harm public confidence, Shabana Mahmood told

"A government plan to give anonymity to firearms officers in England and Wales facing criminal charges will damage public confidence in policing and fuel online misinformation, a coalition of editors, journalists and media lawyers have said. In a letter to the home secretary, Shabana Mahmood, seen by the Guardian, the group warned the measure would make officers empowered to use lethal force less accountable than ordinary members of the public."

"It said the change would ride roughshod over the principles of open justice and significantly dent the media's ability to report on potential criminal activity by officers. It also raised concerns about the dilution of police accountability more generally. It comes after the case of Martyn Blake, the Metropolitan police armed officer cleared of murdering Chris Kaba. He is facing a disciplinary hearing for gross misconduct, where he could face the sack for using excessive force."

"The decision to prosecute Blake caused anger within the police, who argued officers placed in highly unusual circumstances were being treated unfairly. The government backed anonymity for firearms officers in court as part of the crime and policing bill, due to be scrutinised in the House of Lords this week. However, senior media figures are worried about the implications of the changes, under which armed officers charged with an offence would no longer be named right up until their conviction."

A government plan would grant anonymity to firearms officers in England and Wales who face criminal charges. A coalition of editors, journalists and media lawyers warned that anonymity would damage public confidence in policing and fuel online misinformation. The coalition said anonymity would make officers empowered to use lethal force less accountable than ordinary members of the public, erode open justice, and significantly dent the media's ability to report on potential criminal activity by officers. The coalition cited the case of Martyn Blake, who faces disciplinary proceedings after the Chris Kaba case, and referenced other high-profile incidents as reasons for concern, calling on the home secretary to reconsider the measure.

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