As Obiter’s trade paper, the Press Gazette, noted this week, these are trying times to be a crime reporter. Not only is the pay pitched at subsistence level, it just got more difficult to ensure you don’t end up in the dock yourself. That is courtesy of the attorney general, who this week issued a ‘baffling’ note warning over publication of anything which could prejudice a future criminal investigation into Russell Brand.

The risk of contempt of court does not begin until someone has been arrested and/or charged. As any fule kno’ (or thought they did). As one Times journalist lamented despairingly: ‘Is the government telling reporters to stop interviewing women who have courageously come forward, stop pursuing legitimate and important public interest journalism?’ Dunno, guv.

Still, the statement did have one presumably unanticipated outcome. Quite a few lawyers called on the AG to have a word with the home secretary about opining on armed police officers and the potential therein for prejudicing criminal trials.

Physicians, heal thyselves.

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