The Newspaper Society, the body that represents the interests of local and regional titles across the UK, has raise objections to a restriction on reporting the identity of teachers proposed in the new Education Bill.
According to the NS, the bill – which is currently being considered by Parliament – would prevent news groups naming teachers alleged to have committed a criminal offence against a pupil.
The NS said: ‘Anonymity would be indefinite, lasting beyond the teacher’s death, if no legal proceedings commence in court in respect of the offence.
‘If no legal proceedings are commenced, unless the teacher consented to identification or a court order could be obtained to dispense with the restrictions the teacher could not be identified as subject of the allegation even if arrested, or prohibited from working as a teacher or dismissed as a result of disciplinary action relating to the incident.”
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