Media organisations are seeking assurances from the Home Secretary over plans to give blanket anonymity for firearms officers facing criminal charges.

The proposals, announced last week, are being introduced in an effort to protect armed police from future retribution and form part of a package of measures intended to “strengthen public confidence in the police.”

The move followed the acquittal of Metropolitan Police Service firearms officer Sergeant Martyn Blake following the fatal shooting of Chris Kaba in September 2022.

Now the Society of Editors and Crime Reporters Association have written to the Home Office seeking assurances that the ‘presumption of anonymity’ for firearms officers ahead of conviction will not routinely be used in courts to shield officers from public scrutiny.

In a letter to Home Secretary Yvette Cooper, pictured, they said the proposals represented a “significant departure from the principle of open justice” and, as such, raise “serious questions about transparency and public confidence in the police service”.

The letter states: “While limited to firearms officers at present, the introduction of such legislation risks laying the framework for other officers accused of using force in the line of duty to seek anonymity under the same provisions.

“With this in mind, we would welcome your assurances as to what measures you have taken to ensure this cannot happen and that judges will not seek to apply the same provisions elsewhere.”

“Open justice remains a fundamental principle at the very heart of our justice system and is vital to our rule of law. This week you talked about restoring confidence in the police. For confidence to be enhanced, the rule of law must apply equally to police as it does to the general public.”