The family of one of the three girls tragically killed in the Southport attack last year is speaking out against new police guidance on sharing suspects’ ethnicity. The National Police Chiefs’ Council and the College of Policing have advised forces to disclose the ethnicity and nationality of suspects in response to pressure for more transparency.
Michael Weston King, the grandfather of Bebe King, has expressed frustration over this new direction, arguing that a suspect’s ethnicity is “completely irrelevant.” He emphasised that issues leading to crime are not tied to race but to broader systemic failures including mental health and lack of support from organisations.
The update in police guidance follows incidents where misinformation spread like wildfire after the Southport tragedy. The suspect, Axel Rudakubana, attacked a Taylor Swift-themed dance class, leading to widespread online speculation about his background. This lack of clarity resulted in riots, sparking debate on how police communication needs to evolve.
Home Secretary Yvette Cooper has called for more transparency, while Reform UK leader Nigel Farage has supported revealing suspects’ immigration status. Many hope these changes will counteract social media disinformation.
What do you think? Should police share this kind of information about suspects, or does it fuel unnecessary division? Let us know your thoughts in the comments! 🌟