Crown Courts open their doors to TV

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett: 'It is important that the justice system is as transparent as possible'

TV CAMERAS are to be allowed to film in Crown Courts in England and Wales for the first time.

New legislation being laid before Parliament will allow judges’ sentencing remarks in serious high-profile criminal cases to be seen and heard by TV and online audiences.

However, trials will not be televised as they are in countries such as the US as only the judge will be filmed. Several have welcomed the move including the judiciary, broadcasters and government have welcomed the move.

The groundbreaking initiative follows a successful period that allowed not-for-broadcast sentencing remarks to be filmed in eight Crown Courts.

The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, said: “It is important that the justice system and what happens in our courts is as transparent as possible.

“My hope is that there will be regular broadcasting of the remarks in high profile cases, and that will improve public understanding.”

Criminal Bar Association chairwoman Caroline Goodwin QC said the move would “bring greater transparency and a better public understanding of the criminal justice system”.

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