Commenting on today’s ruling by Lord Justice Leveson that children previously involved in court proceedings can be named in the media after they turn 18, Penelope Gibbs, Chair of the Standing Committee for Youth Justice (SCYJ) said:
“We are very disappointed by the judgement this morning that children who had been given anonymity in the courts, can be named when they hit their 18th birthday. This clarification of the law means that vulnerable witnesses and children who offend may face the harmful glare of publicity just as they are trying to put the past behind them, and turn their lives around. There is no public interest in identifying child victims, witnesses and offenders who were previously anonymous. We believe that the law needs to be changed to stop this happening.”
For more information on the case see the Just For Kids Law press release here. Just for Kids Law is a member of SCYJ and intervened in the case.