Police 'should confirm names'

Detectives investigating the Jimmy Savile sex abuse scandal have arrested yet another suspect in his seventies.

He has not been named - in line with current police procedure.

But the Attorney General, Dominic Grieve, has told ITV News that it is sensible for police to confirm a name if the media are already reporting it.

UK Editor Lucy Manning reports:

Dominic Grieve, Attorney General of England and Wales, has told ITV News that police should name a suspect to the media if an innocent person's name is being mentioned on social media websites in connection with the alleged crime.

He told UK Editor Lucy Manning: "If you read the guidelines it seems to me that that is precisely one of the instances that the police might conclude that it was right to explain who was under arrest. It’s clear that the public interest is provided for."

Watch: Grieve - police should confirm suspects names to journalists

Dominic Grieve, Attorney General of England and Wales, has told ITV News that he agrees with Home Secretary Teresa May that the police should confirm a suspect’s name if the press have identified them and asked for confirmation.

He told UK Editor Lucy Manning: "If the press have got to know who somebody is who's been arrested and are publicising that, then clearly it might be very sensible for the police to confirm that fact.

"But equally, I don't think we should end up with a process in which the police are being subjected to fishing expeditions with dozens of names being reeled out to them and an obligation to pick one of them.

"That seems to me to be a matter which must be within the discretion of the police."