Rape anonymity law to stay

The Government today rejected calls for a change in the law to protect the anonymity of men accused of rape.

The case of Australian snooker star Quinten Hann, 25, who was found not guilty of rape, prompted new demands for an end to the rules which mean men on trial for the offence are named while their alleged victims are not.

But Home Office sources made clear that the Government does not support reform. "This was debated in 1999 and Parliament decided at that time to retain the status quo. That is still our view," a spokeswoman said.

Men accused of rape were granted anonymity unless and until found guilty under a law introduced by a Labour government in 1976, but the measure was abolished in 1988. At the time, the Tory government said it was not convinced men accused of rape should get special protection.

Sources say there are also practical difficulties: if a man accused of rape goes on the run, police would not be able to tell the public he was an alleged rapist; and if a man is cleared of rape but found guilty of indecent assault, he would still remain anonymous. However, Home Secretary David Blunkett has promised to publish plans for reform of sex-offence laws in the autumn.

Labour peer Lord Corbett, who as a Home Office minister in 1976 brought in the law granting anonymity to both the alleged victim and the accused, led calls today for the law to be restored. He said: "Rape is a uniquely serious offence and acquittal is not enough to clear a man in the eyes of his family, community or workplace. He is left with this indelible stain on his reputation. The case for matching anonymity for the defendant is as strong now as ever and I will be arguing that it must be part of the Home Secretary's reforms."

Tory MPs including former shadow home secretary Ann Widdecombe also vowed to raise the issue when the Government puts its plans for criminal justice reform before Parliament. Miss Widdecombe suggested that in cases where a man is cleared, the judge should have the discretion to name the woman "if he deems the complaint was without foundation".

Mr Hann was unanimously cleared by an Old Bailey jury yesterday of raping a 21-year-old South African student who admitted she let him strip her and that she straddled his naked body, kissed him goodbye and even gave him her phone number. Miss Widdecombe added that "the full rigour of the law should be applied" if there was any question that Mr Hann's accuser committed perjury.