More high-profile cases will be televised under plans announced by justice secretary David Lammy to expand court broadcasting and improve the public’s understanding of the criminal justice system.
Lammy and the lady chief justice have agreed to let sentencing remarks by the chief magistrate to be broadcast. Following a recommendation by the judicial-led Transparency and Open Justice Board, the government will also bring forward legislation to allow High Court cases to be broadcast.
In a letter to the House of Commons justice select committee, Lammy said the broadcasting of court sentencing remarks has been important in widening the public’s access to, and understanding of, the criminal justice system.
The Conservative administration introduced legislation in 2020 that allowed broadcasters to film High Court and senior circuit judges sitting in the Crown court. The first Old Bailey sentencing was broadcast in July 2022.
Supreme Court cases have been live-streamed for several years. The first full Court of Appeal case was live-streamed in 2018.
Broadcasting in Scotland has been less restrictive, with broadcasters being able to apply to film trials since 1992.
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