Contempt of court laws should be re-examined so more details of ongoing cases can be published, the Government's senior law officer said.
The Attorney General, Lord Goldsmith QC, said that in major police investigations there may need to be a system which allows journalists to give more information in a "controlled and considered" way.
At present, strict laws prevent the media from publishing most details of a criminal investigation if a trial could be on the horizon.
Lord Goldsmith said in a speech to the Reform Club in London: "I believe that we should look at providing more, but controlled, information to the public in other cases where there is a strong public interest.
"A consistent concern expressed to me is that the absence of information on cases pending, especially after high-profile arrests, can be very damaging."
For example, the "radio silence" after a high-profile arrest - such as a terror operation - can give the impression of a case collapsing or of "trumping up charges", he added.
"There is a very proper public interest in knowing what the risks are in our society," he said.
"So I believe, therefore, we should re-examine this issue.
"Having fair trials is imperative but I am in favour of examining whether we can be more open about such cases in a controlled and considered basis but still consistent with the imperative requirements of justice."
His comments followed a speech by Britain's most senior counter-terrorism officer last month in which he warned that "damaging" leaks in terror operations could put lives at risk.
