A long-standing campaign by British journalists to allow cameras to enter the country’s central criminal court, known as the Old Bailey, has been successful.
Laws are now in place to allow the public to watch or watch judges deliver and explain verdicts at the Old Bailey, the Justice Department announced today, and the first of these will be tomorrow, where a man was convicted of having killed his grandfather. .
However, the new laws do not allow the entire trial to be filmed, which means that those hoping to witness Kevin Spacey’s impending sexual assault trial, in theory, will be denied a verdict ban.
Only the judge will be filmed during the sentence to protect the privacy of the victim, witnesses and jury.
News providers such as the BBC, Sky News and ITN, which produce news content for ITV, Channel 4 and Channel 5, have argued for nearly 20 years that cameras could enter the Old Bailey in the name of transparency.
Previously, only court proceedings were possible. Such an antiquated system may seem strange to an American audience accustomed to filming and broadcasting cases in their entirety, but it has been the law throughout the history of British broadcasting.
John Battle, ITN’s Chief Legal and Compliance Officer and President of the Media Lawyers Association, said, “This is a historic moment for open justice. This reform reflects the public’s right to have justice administered in its courts. This will contribute to a better public understanding of the work of the courts and to greater transparency of the judiciary.
“Court reports are vital to democracy and the rule of law, and this long-awaited change is welcome.”
Sky News Director John Riley said, “It is a win for viewers to film the remarks on the sentencing of the judges at the Crown Court of England and Wales. This will allow our courts to be more transparent and this is what broadcasters including Sky News have been striving for for over a decade. “
BBC News Acting Director Jonathan Munro added: “Justice needs to be done, so this is a pivotal time for transparency in the justice system and for our audience to be able to better understand the process by assisting. to myself.
The move follows successful campaigns with the BBC, ITN and Sky and I am delighted to see the results of our work now.
Source: Deadline
Elizabeth Cabrera is an author and journalist who writes for The Fashion Vibes. With a talent for staying up-to-date on the latest news and trends, Elizabeth is dedicated to delivering informative and engaging articles that keep readers informed on the latest developments.
