The image of used above - of police vans in 2018 - is for illustrative purposes only and is not specifically related to the address or identity of the anonymous individual discussed below.
Today, reports have spread of the arrest of an award-winning singer, who was suspected of assaulting his girlfriend during a row at her home in South London. These online stories are accompanied with classic tabloid silhouettes, as the individual - who is referred to only as 'in his thirties' is not identified. Naturally, many are curiously searching for the name of this singer online and on social media. But there has been another response: that of confusion, surrounding the differences between the reporting of this incident and of a comparable one involving the late Caroline Flack, who was involved in an assault incident involving her then-boyfriend, months before her death.
Many Twitter users today have asked why Caroline Flack was named in reports surrounding her arrest in December of 2019, while this man has retained his anonymity. It may seem unjust, as the cases seem similar, and the reporting of the Caroline incident can widely be condemned as cruel and malicious. But there is an explanation of this specific contrast: it comes down to the process of arresting and charging.
Caroline was arrested on December 12th, and then charged on December 13th. 'Caroline Flack, 40, of Islington was charged on Friday, 13 December with assault by beating. She will appear on bail at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court on Monday, 23 December,' a Met statement said at the time. 'This follows an incident at approximately 05:25hrs on Thursday, 12 December after reports of a man being assaulted. He was not seriously injured.'
This new story about the unknown man, however, relates specifically to his arrest. He has not been charged, and is therefore entitled to his anonymity. If he his charged, then his identity may become known, and it can then be widely reported. In short, Caroline was named because she was both arrested and charged. This cannot be said for this man.
A source told The Sun that 'apparently, [the unnamed man] had a row with a girlfriend that ended up getting out of hand. There was a lot of screaming and one of the woman's neighbours called the police. They turned up, nicked him and led him away.' The Metropolitan Police has confirmed that 'officers attended and a woman reported minor injuries. Inquiries are ongoing.' The man has been bailed.
Earlier this year, Caroline's mother spoke out on how media intrusion against Meghan, Duchess of Sussex, suggests that the way the press attacks women has not changed since her daughter's death.
'I look at the headlines about Meghan Markle and everything that is said about her and it just makes me think "have we learned nothing?"' she said. 'The national press has been awful to her. It's almost as if people think that because she is beautiful and because she is articulate that she can not think these things - and it was the same with Carrie.' 'Carrie' was what Caroline's family called her.
So, while it is reasonable to wonder if this ongoing story reflects the media's unfair treatment of women in the public eye, the specific issue of the man's currently unknown identify is a matter of law.
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