Suspect anonymity: Should arrested persons be named by the police?

Should the identities of arrested suspects be made public by the police before they have been charged with an offence? Some commentators argue that doing so encourages more victims to come forward, while others argue that it can cause irreparable damage to reputations. New guidance was issued by the College of Policing in May 2013 and the Law Commission recently consulted on the issue in relation to contempt of court (but is yet to respond). This note provides an overview of the debate and developments.