The government introduces new rules for disclosing the ethnicity of victims

• The introduction of new rules for the police has provoked outrage from human rights advocates.
• Critics believe that this may lead to an increase in racism.
• The police minister noted that disinformation is a serious problem.

In Great Britain, new recommendations for the police allow for the disclosure of the ethnicity and nationality of victims in serious crimes. This decision has drawn criticism from human rights advocates, who believe that such actions could lead to the spread of racial prejudices and an increase in social divisions.

The Secretary of State, Yvette Cooper, supported the initiative, which aims to combat disinformation that spreads on social media. For example, last year, following the murder of three schoolgirls in Southampton, there were feelings about the ethnicity of the perpetrator, which led to mass protests.

Human rights advocates, such as Enni Chudkhuri from the United Council for the Protection of Immigrants, assert that the publication of ethnic data of victims breeds distrust and risks creating a black and brown community that is more vulnerable to prejudices. They emphasize that criminalizing ethnicity can lead to increased racism.

Critics of the new rules, such as Peter Herbert from the Association of Black Lawyers, point out that disclosing ethnicity may become an unsafe precedent, as crimes are not necessarily linked to nationality or race. They stress the need to eliminate the politicization of issues related to ethnicity in the criminal justice system.

The new recommendations, which are in the works, were developed by the National Police Council and take into account "public concerns." They allow police to disclose such data, which can help prevent disinformation and safeguard community trust.

However, the police maintain the freedom of choice in each specific case, taking into account legal and ethical aspects. The police minister, Diana Johnson, noted that the government expects the police to publish such details in "the majority of cases," as disinformation poses a serious threat to society.

In light of the new rules, some experts warn that this may lead to an increase in speculation on the internet, where information about victims may not be provided.

Tags: Europe/Politics