Not Quite Learning Lessons from Southport.

The Police have thankfully released details of the driver of the car in the Liverpool atrocity. 

I still think that the general details like age and ethnicity could have been released the evening of the incident in order to quell tensions.

The issue was the delay in getting the information out in the public domain. The Police's natural response is to not release information, which is wrong-headed. It's not like releasing general information would prejudice any future trial.

As it is, the unsaid information does allow speculation.

Was the 53-year old white man (note the specific mention of the skin colour) of a certain religion known for driving cars and trucks into crowds?

Was the 53-year old white man from a country like Ukraine maybe?

Was he Russian?

Was he an aggrieved football fan?

Or was this a case of extreme road rage?

The problem with releasing so little information is the public cannot assess any risk that may happen in any future event. It's incumbent on the government and the authorities not to hide information or even worse lie, so the public can asses risks. 

Its also necessary for the authorities to release as much information as possible so that the public can also decide on what policy they would like the authorities to take going forward and if necessary vote on when the opportunity arises.

Anything else is pure manipulation.