Television cameras could be allowed into courtrooms following a government consultation on court broadcasting launched this week.


The consultation paper seeks views on whether allowing cameras into the courts could improve the openness of the court process - as a pilot allowing cameras into the Court of Appeal also begins (see [2004] Gazette, 30 September, 22).



The consultation will consider whether broadcasting should be allowed over the television, radio or the Internet. It will assess the potential negative impact on criminal trials, taking into account overseas research that has shown that witnesses are less likely to come forward if they know that their testimony will be televised.



The Lord Chancellor, Lord Falconer, said: 'The time is right for a full and public debate of these issues - technology and public attitudes have moved on since the legislation controlling the broadcasting of courts was passed in 1925. That said, there remain powerful reasons and arguments for protecting victims, witnesses, jurors and the justice process in general from the impact of cameras and microphones in court.'



He added: 'No change to make our courts more open and accessible should worsen or jeopardise in any way the position of witnesses and victims or make witnesses reluctant to appear. Cameras in the courtroom would be a big step. We have to make sure that any such step would benefit justice, not worsen justice.'