I think it would be relatively easy to get the public to stop being involved in those cases. There should be a presumption of privacy when someone is charged, in the same way there is a presumption of privacy for the person making the accusation in such cases.

A judge might decide to put a gagging order in place to protect both parties, but I think it would be prudent of the judiciary to make that the norm. What is really happening in these instances is that the police are allowing the public to do their work for them. There is an understanding that if a name is put in the public domain that other people may come forward to corroborate or bring new allegations to like.

That is a good or bad thing depending on your outlook. Personally I think it's a terrible thing. It invites trial by media and we end up with situations like Operations Yewtree and Midland, in which guilt was presumed first and the investigation was an exercise in incompetence and bias.

And you're right, the BBC should know better - unfortunately, it doesn't. It's far too ideologically possessed .