Phoenix police to routinely withhold criminal information

Phoenix police are using a new policy to withhold information on crime victims and suspects from the public, including the addresses of reported crimes. The change is designed to put the police in compliance with a state law making it the government’s obligation to prevent identity theft, The Arizona Republic reported.

Police may also withhold the birth dates of criminals and the names of victims in some situations. Suspects will be identified by name, age and race only.The newspaper said the change was recommended by the city attorney’s office.

"If it’s exclusively private, we’ll do our best to protect it," Phoenix Assistant City Attorney Sandra Hunter told the paper.