(LD):...Despite the
efforts of the police and the Government to prevent this, despite
all the furore over Operation Yewtree and Operation Midland, and
the Leveson inquiry, it is still happening. In December, a couple
arrested over the drone chaos at Gatwick Airport had their identities
published in the press and broadcast by the media. They said they
felt completely violated. The couple were arrested but later
released without charge. They said their privacy and identity had
been completely exposed after being named in the media and having
had their home searched. They said:
“We are deeply distressed, as are our family and friends, and we
are currently receiving medical care. The way we were initially
perceived was disgusting”...
(LD):...My noble friend, and the briefing, reminded us
of the couple who were arrested for flying drones
at Gatwick. They were, I suggest,
mercilessly and falsely hounded by the press in a, frankly,
unforgivable way, but the press thought it made a good story and
there was the background that many people had lost their holidays
and been caused severe disruption by what had happened. The
result, when they were photographed, their names and pictures
were published, their house was searched and they were held in
custody for some time, was that they felt completely violated. It
is also possible they were exposed to danger from the less
scrupulous of those who had been seriously affected. The problem
for their reputation is that people do not follow the details as
closely as they might. They will be forever known by the
question: “Oh, weren’t they the ones who had the drones
at Gatwick?”. That kind of innuendo and
misinformed spread of rumour trashes reputations
unjustly...
(LD):...The
Minister emphasised the police’s role in all this, saying
that it would be premature to take action until after the
review from Her Majesty’s Inspectorate of Constabulary and
Fire & Rescue Services on how the revised College of
Policing guidelines were working. However, I remind her of
the Gatwick case, to which noble Lords
have referred. The police did not reveal the identity of
the individuals they arrested. Neighbours told the press
that a home was being raided, so the press identified the
individuals either by talking to their neighbours or by
examining the electoral roll. They then published the
details and vilified the individuals, blaming them for the
disruption to those people caught up in the chaos—wrongly.
That points to the need for this legislation, as opposed to
a review of the College of Policing guidance. Having said
that, I ask the House to give the Bill a Second Reading...
Bill read a second time and committed to a Committee of the
Whole House.
To read the whole debate, CLICK
HERE
