PNM v Times Newspapers Ltd and Others: CA 1 Aug 2014

The claimant sought a privacy order after being accused of historical serious sexual offences against children.
Held: The judge had properly acted within the range of his discretion, and the appeal was dismissed. The judgment would however remain anonymised until the outcome of an appeal to the Supreme Court.
Sharp LJ acknowledged ‘a growing recognition that as a matter of public policy, the identity of those arrested or suspected of a crime should not be released to the public save in exceptional and clearly defined circumstances’

Judges:

Lord Dyson MR, Sharp, Vos LJJ

Citations:

[2014] EWCA Civ 1132, [2014] WLR(D) 371, [2014] CP Rep 48, [2014] EMLR 30, [2015] 1 Cr App R 1

Links:

Bailii, WLRD

Statutes:

Contempt of Court Act 1981 4(2)

Jurisdiction:

England and Wales

Citing:

Appeal fromPNM v Times Newspapers Ltd and Others QBD 22-Oct-2013
The claimant had been arrested on allegations of serious child sex abuse. The court now considered an application for a continuation or cancellation of an interim non-disclosure order.
Held: The application for a non-disclosure order was . .

Cited by:

Appeal fromPNM v Times Newspapers Ltd and Others SC 19-Jul-2017
No anonymity for investigation suspect
The claimant had been investigated on an allegation of historic sexual abuse. He had never been charged, but the investigation had continued with others being convicted in a high profile case. He appealed from refusal of orders restricting . .
CitedRichard v The British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) and Another ChD 18-Jul-2018
Police suspect has outweighable Art 8 rights
Police (the second defendant) had searched the claimant’s home in his absence in the course of investigating allegations of historic sexual assault. The raid was filmed and broadcast widely by the first defendant. No charges were brought against the . .
CitedRe Al M (Children) CA 28-Feb-2020
Publication of Children judgment – wide publicity
F brought wardship proceedings in respect of M and F’s two children, seeking their return to Dubai. F was the Ruler of the Emirate of Dubai. Media companies now sought publication of earlier judgments, and F appealed from an order for their . .
Lists of cited by and citing cases may be incomplete.

Litigation Practice, Media

Updated: 24 October 2022; Ref: scu.535521