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(about 5 hours later)
Broadcasters, publishers and film-makers paying criminals for their stories could be guilty of breaking the law under plans being considered. Broadcasters and publishers paying criminals for their stories could be breaking the law, under new proposals.
The Home Office wants to target criminals profiting from their illegal activities and it is considering various options. The Home Office wants to stop criminals profiting from their activities and is considering four options.
Recovering cash through the courts is among them. It could make it illegal to pay criminals, recover profits through the courts, extend a voluntary code against payments, or make no changes.
Another would be to extend a voluntary press code of conduct prohibiting crooks being paid for news stories. Victims' groups welcomed the idea of a payment ban, but drug smuggler turned author Howard Marks called it "silly".
'Victims at the heart'
Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "It is not right that criminals can make money by selling the story of their crimes.Home Office minister Gerry Sutcliffe said: "It is not right that criminals can make money by selling the story of their crimes.
"This is a complex area and the options laid out aim to find the best way to ensure there is no adverse effect on freedom of expression - a fundamental principle of our society - whilst putting the rights of victims at the heart of the solution." It is distressing and a source of great pain to bereaved families when they realise a convicted offender is profiting from the death of their loved one Rose DixonSupport After Murder and Manslaughter
'Celebrity status' "It can cause further hurt and distress to victims and their families as well as being contrary to the principles of natural justice."
The Home Office consultation paper says "any new measures would not prevent an author or film-maker from interviewing or working with a criminal, and would not be targeted at anyone else's profits from publications". But it was a complex area and the answer needed to protect freedom of expression "whilst putting the rights of victims at the heart of the solution", he said.
The paper adds: "In a society in which celebrity, however it is achieved, is increasingly sought after and valued for its own sake, it seems likely that opportunities for criminals to exploit their crimes for financial gain will increase." The Home Office consultation paper says measures would not prevent an author or film-maker from interviewing or working with a criminal.
It is thought that the new measures would not cover other publications by criminals, such as prison diaries. Other people's profits from publications would not be targeted, either, it said.
The paper also highlighted the Daily Mirror paying Norfolk farmer Tony Martin for the story of his conviction for the manslaughter of 16-year-old burglar Fred Barras. Nor would the measures cover other publications by criminals, such as prison diaries - the measures were aimed solely at "criminals' accounts of and views on their crime".
That decision to pay was later upheld by the Press Complaints Commission. Many newspapers and broadcasters already have codes of practice intended to prevent payments to criminals.
The consultation period, which applies to England, Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland, runs until 9 February. However, Mr Sutcliffe said: "Whilst it is possible for criminals to make money this way, victims will continue to be hurt and confidence in the criminal justice system will be undermined."
Oscar Wilde
Rose Dixon, from Support After Murder and Manslaughter, said: "It is distressing and a source of great pain to bereaved families when they realise a convicted offender is profiting from the death of their loved one."
I'm not quite sure what on earth they expect someone who comes out of prison to do as a career Howard Marks
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Victim Support, said: "We believe that it's wrong for criminals to capitalise on their crimes, so we welcome this consultation on criminal memoirs."
But Marks said: "It strikes me as very, very silly to suddenly want to write off a whole bunch of literature simply because the person had a conviction beforehand.
"We'd have to rule out the Bible, wouldn't we, for example, because a lot of that was written by St John in prison. Also Oscar Wilde, we wouldn't be able to read him.
"I'm not quite sure what on earth they expect someone who comes out of prison to do as a career. At least writing is available now."
Martin controversy
The government first pledged to look at the issue in 1998, following reports that double child killer Mary Bell had received £50,000 for her contribution to Gitta Sereny's book about the crimes.The government first pledged to look at the issue in 1998, following reports that double child killer Mary Bell had received £50,000 for her contribution to Gitta Sereny's book about the crimes.
The consultation paper highlighted rows over the Tony Martin case.
The Daily Mirror paid the Norfolk farmer for the story of his conviction for the manslaughter of 16-year-old burglar Fred Barras - a decision upheld by the Press Complaints Commission.
Another burglar shot by Martin, Brendan Fearon, was paid £4,500 by the BBC. The broadcaster said Fearon would give his side of the story only if he received money, and the information was in the public interest.
The consultation period, which applies across the UK, runs until 9 February.