‘More protection’ for gang witnesses
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Controversial new powers designed to protect witnesses in gang-related murders will come into force next month in England, Wales and Northern Ireland.
Investigative anonymity orders will allow police to keep the identity of a witness secret from the start of a murder investigation.
Ministers say they want to give gang members the opportunity to speak out without the risk of intimidation.
But critics say the law is badly designed and sends the wrong message.
They claim it gives the impression that speaking to the police is deceitful and could even put young lives in danger.
Witnesses in serious murder cases can already be granted anonymity at trial using screens or voice distortion.
Under the new law, that kind of protection will be extended to the early stages of a police investigation involving guns or knives before the case gets to court.
It makes it a criminal offence to reveal the identity of a specific witness to a newspaper or a local member of the community.
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A snitch is a collaborator and I refuse to do a job for the police. I’ve seen a few things around here but why should I help the police?
Ministers expect police to make around 800 applications a year to use the powers.
But the charity Witness Confident, which supports witnesses to violent crime, says the measures could encourage reprisals as suspects try to find out who is talking to the authorities.
“The government is making a mistake if it thinks the solution to tackling crime and gangs is anonymity,” said the charity’s director Guy Dehn.
“We are worried the police will assume these new laws are a magic bullet.
