Naming and shaming, local media

[henrygregory]

I am just curious and wondered if anyone knew the answers.... I always read my local news paper and we often get a legal round up style report which names and shames all of the local bad guys from FPN parking offenders to shop lifters to anti social drunkards. I have noticed that some reports do actually name and shame whereas others don't. I know that in the case of a minor, they are not allowed to be named for legal reasons. But I have come across a few reports where the offender is over 18 but also not named. Why would this be? Are they able to stay anonymous or is it just bad reporting on the part of the news paper in that for some reason, they have not got the name of the person in question. This has been on my mind for months and have never been able to figure it out!