News broke on 14 May 2013 that an elderly former BBC employee, arrested by virtue of the second strand of the Savile Inquiry, has been released from the investigation because there was insufficient evidence to prosecute.

He, like the 14 others arrested under Savile, has been identified pending investigation and prior to deciding whether prosecution should be instigated.

This individual was exactly the type of individual which LJ Leveson envisaged when he concluded in his report that arrestees should not be identified before charge. To be frank, that is generally what happens in the vast majority of criminal cases, unless the identity of the individual is leaked.

Historic sexual allegations are sensitive, difficult, delicate cases to investigate and prosecute. The evidence, usually the uncorroborated word of one individual, relies on memories of events many years old. So there is no guarantee that anyone arrested for such an offence will ever be prosecuted, but yet their identity has been revealed to the world in the meantime!

If you are facing such an allegation, you will need solicitors who are not only experts when defending these types of cases and have successful track records, but who will also manage your reputation and defend press inquiries. We are adept at both.

Contact Jeffrey Lewis if you have any queries in connection with these issues.