Following the Crown Prosecution Service authorising Hertfordshire Constabulary to charge Metropolitan Police officer David Carrick with 13 additional offences relating to the sexual assault of 3 women, the Attorney General reminds editors, publishers and social media users that for the purpose of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (the Act), proceedings are active and the strict liability rule under the Act therefore applies.
In particular, the Attorney General wishes to draw attention to the risks in publishing material, including on-line, that asserts or assumes, expressly or implicitly, the guilt of any of those arrested, or that otherwise interferes with the administration of justice in this case, for example allegations of wrongdoing of any individual arrested in relation to this matter.
The Attorney General’s Office will be monitoring the coverage of this investigation.