NO-NAME IS ALL RIGHT FOR PRODUCTS, NOT FOR REPEAT OFFENDERS

Community Court Judge Tom Gove obviously felt the need to protect the
B&E artists, shoplifters, addicts and car thieves ushered into his
courtroom when he asked reporters this week not to release the names
to readers or viewers.

We realize his request was well-meaning but was it in the public's
best interest?

Bans on publication, aimed at protecting the identity and whereabouts
of certain citizens, do play an important role in the criminal
justice system as well as in the newsrooms of the nation, for a
variety of worthwhile reasons.

That's why The Province, as well as other media outlets, can be
compelled by law, persuaded by caution or moved by concern to protect
the identity of a prisoner, a witness or a crime victim.

The media does its darnedest to respect the sensitivities of such
bans, especially when they are aimed at safeguarding the identity of
child and youth witnesses as well as youth offenders. The same
applies when they shield sexual assault victims, who may face shame
and ridicule, and in cases in which they protect the safety and
security of undercover police officers and other witnesses whose
lives may be at risk.

But we are not persuaded by Gove's argument that out of kindness and
consideration, we ought not to name any of the men and women awaiting
a hearing in the community court, any more than we would embrace a
sweeping ban on the names of defendants facing trial in other B.C.
courts. After all, why are some entitled to preferential treatment
and not others?

The purpose of this community court, as reiterated by the
politicians, crime busters and court advocates, is to purge the
downtown streets of what police say are more than 300 chronic
thieves, drug pushers and muggers who repeatedly attack hapless
pedestrians, steal from stores and ransack homes and parked vehicles.

The public has a right to know who these guys are who have racked up
dozens of convictions for theft, robberies and B&Es as well as what
measures the justice system has taken to stop them in their tracks.

And if on any given day a fellow or female shows up whose misfortune
and misery would be compounded by having his or her identity
released, there is nothing stopping defence counsel or a drug
counsellor from saying so.

And if we get it wrong, the public will let us know.