Gordon Brown has signalled plans to change the law to ensure witnesses can give evidence anonymously in criminal trials.

The Prime Minister insisted anonymous evidence “is important in fighting crime,” as he spoke to The Birmingham Post.

He was speaking following last week’s decision by Law Lords to quash the conviction of a man convicted of murder in a London case, on the grounds that witnesses had been allowed to give evidence anonymously.

The ruling has led to speculation that the killers of Birmingham teenagers Charlene Ellis and Letisha Shakespeare could go free.

Four men were jailed in 2005 for the murders of the two girls – but their convictions also followed evidence given anonymously.

A £6 million murder trial was halted at the Old Bailey yesterday, in another early casualty of the ruling.

The trial of two men accused of shooting east London businessman Charles Butler had to be stopped after lawyers considered the judgement.

Mr Brown said the Government was looking “very closely” at the implications of the ruling.

He said: “We believe that this form of evidence has a role to play, and we will make sure that we do everything in our power so that people can give evidence – sometimes in very, very difficult cases where there has been a huge amount of intimidation.

“We are looking at this very closely.”

Asked whether existing convictions should be upheld, Mr Brown said: “Obviously, some people have a right to appeal, so it would be unfair for me to say that in all circumstances.

“But clearly we believe anonymous evidence has a role to play and is important in fighting crime.”

Commons Leader Harriet Harman yesterday told MPs there would be an “opportunity, should legislation be required”, to bring forward measures in the Victims and Witnesses Bill, set to be debated in Parliament’s next session.During the interview, the Prime Minister urged residents to take part in a consultation about post office closures which began yesterday.


He said that specific proposals could be reversed if convincing objections were put forward.

Post Office Ltd has published proposals to close 26 branches in Birmingham, three in Solihull and one in Meriden. Branch cuts in Coventry and Warwickshire bring the number to 51.

Another five branches in Stratford will be closed and replaced with “outreach” services, with limited opening hours.

Mr Brown said: “The consultation is still to take place . . . there have been quite a few changes made after the consultation in different areas.

“There is a consultation process that goes right up to Alan Leighton, who is the chairman of the Post Office.

“So this is a genuine consultation that is taking place. It will happen in the next few weeks.

“I hope people will take part in the consultation, and specific closure proposals can be reversed in response to the information that is received.”

But the Prime Minister also pointed out that the post office network currently lost around £3.5 million a week.

He said: “I think you’ve got to understand that the reason the post office is making these proposals is that post offices are losing money. But instead of not helping the post office network, we are giving £1.7 billion over the next few years to help ease the changes that are taking place.

‘‘So I would urge people who have concerns to take part in the consultation, but I would remind people that four million fewer people are using the post offices.”

Critics have accused the Government of failing to appreciate that the post offices play a valuable role in the community which makes them unlike other businesses, but ministers say the right balance must be struck between the social value of a national post office network and the cost to the taxpayer of subsidising it.