Tate brothers challenge decision to withhold names of UK accusers
Andrew and Tristan Tate are seeking to appeal a decision by the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) to withhold from them the identities of people bringing criminal charges against the brothers in the UK.
At the hearing at the Royal Courts of Justice, their lawyers argued that the decision to suppress the names was “flawed” and said they were “treated differently than other suspects or defendants”.
But counsel for the CPS said withholding the identities was a “time-limited decision” until “the trial has substantially commenced” in the UK.
Andrew Tate, 39, and Tristan Tate, 37, will face 21 charges, including rape and human trafficking, in the UK after being extradited from Romania.
Bedfordshire Police have issued a European arrest warrant for the pair in 2024, but they will only be extradited to the UK after their criminal case is concluded in Romania.
The Tate brothers have previously denied any wrongdoing and sought a judicial review to overturn the decision not to name their UK-based accusers.
Their lawyer, Sallie Bennett-Jenkins, said in written submissions that the CPS had assumed the pair would identify the complainants on social media and cause them to withdraw from the case, but said this was an “exaggerated assumption of risk”.
He continued: “Plaintiffs’ controversial views are not an appropriate basis for denying them essential information regarding the criminal allegations they face.”
Bennett-Jenkins also said the lack of information provided to the Tates limited the brothers’ ability to identify evidence in their defense or evaluate the reliability of that evidence ahead of any future trial.
Tom Little, representing the CPS and the Chief Constable of Bedfordshire Police, told the court on Tuesday that the claimants would be given sufficient time to prepare for the hearing when they arrive in the UK.
In a written submission, he said that not releasing names at this stage was a “time-limited decision” until “the proceedings have substantially commenced” in the UK.
He also said the decision was “kept under review” and that it was not within the court’s remit to make the decision.
On Tuesday, the court heard that the brothers, who are both British and US citizens, are currently in Romania and are subject to Romanian judicial control.
The court was told that an offer had been made by British authorities, with the approval of Romanian authorities, to be interrogated discreetly in Bucharest, but the CPS rejected the offer.
In May 2025, prosecutors confirmed the full list of 21 charges the Tate brothers will face on their return to the UK, which allegedly took place between 2012 and 2016.
The CPS had said it authorized charges against the brothers in 2024 before an extradition warrant was issued to bring them back from Romania.
The decision to charge comes after Bedfordshire Police received a dossier of evidence relating to allegations made in the UK.
Mr Justice Chamberlain was expected to rule on the Tate brothers’ application for judicial review leave later this week.
