Can anonymity orders under section 45 apply to a deceased child?

Anonymity orders under section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 specifically serve to protect the identities of witnesses, including those who are minors, in criminal proceedings. Given that section 45 pertains to the protection of living individuals, it does not extend to deceased persons.

Thus, since anonymity orders are aimed at safeguarding the interests and identities of those who are alive and may face potential harm or distress from public exposure, they cannot apply to a deceased child. Once a person is deceased, their interests are no longer relevant in this context, and anonymity orders lose their purpose, which is to protect living witnesses. Therefore, the statement that it does not apply is accurate and reflects the legal framework surrounding anonymity orders in accordance with section 45.