The Ministry of Justice said it is reviewing its policy on the naming of fugitives after The Sun today revealed that 960 wanted criminals are being given anonymity.
After filing a Freedom of Information request, The Sun reports today that 960 freed prisoners are on the run and that 47 of them are deemed dangerous and are "high risk" or "very high risk". All are on the run after breaking the terms of their release or committing new crimes.
A Ministry of Justice official told Sun political editor Tom Newton Dunn that they could not be named, citing the 'reasonable expectation that the department would hold the information in confidence".
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A Ministry of Justice spokesperson told Press Gazette: 'We are reviewing the policy on releasing details of offenders at large. This Government is committed to transparency and there should be a presumption that such information is published unless the police object for specific operational reasons. Recapturing high risk offenders will always be a priority."
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