'Landmark' day as TV cameras enter Court of Appeal

ITN, Sky News, the Press Association and BBC have issued a joint statement on the eve of television cameras being permitted in the Court of Appeal for the first time.

Tomorrow (31 October) is the first day broadcasts can be made from the court after the lifting of the ban was announced two years ago.

Rules state that only judges and lawyers will be seen or heard in the broadcasts. Some cases will be broadcast live with a 70 second delay.

The legislation was introduced following campaigning from broadcasters, who have issued a statement describing a "landmark day for open justice".

A joint statement from ITN, Sky News, PA and BBC explains that it is "intended that the filming will open up the workings of the Court of Appeal, engage the public in the legal system and make justice more transparent".

The statement explains the new rules, stating:

• Some cases will be broadcast live with a 70 second delay to allow the removal of anything that contravenes broadcasting regulations or standard court reporting restrictions – such as contempt of court laws and court orders;
• Appeals against conviction which might result in a re-trial will only be shown once the case is decided;
• The judge can ban filming or broadcasting if it is in the interests of justice or to prevent undue prejudice;
• There will be no broadcasting or audio of private discussions between judges and between counsel in the courtroom;
• Discreet camera positions are operated by a court video journalist, known as a CVJ;
• While there are various camera angles, there is only a mixed feed from each courtroom with no opportunity for isolated shots;
• The footage can be used in a news and current affairs context only, not other genres such as satire, entertainment or commercial use in advertising.

Matt Nicholls is the court video journalist and will coordinate filming, with recordings then distributed via production hubs at the BBC, ITN, PA and Sky News. His role is jointly funded by the four broadcasters.

The joint press release explains that Nicholls, an experienced court reporter, will co-ordinate with the four newsdesks regarding which cases to cover.
 
In the joint statement James Harding, BBC director of news and current affairs, describes the move as "a landmark moment for justice and journalism".
 
John Hardie, chief executive at ITN, says: "Filming in courts has been a long time coming and is for the benefit of open justice and democracy."

Clive Marshall, chief executive at PA, adds: "Delivering on our long held ambition to film court proceedings is a significant moment in news reporting and testament to many hours of hard work."

John Ryley, head of Sky News, states: "After a long campaign, this is hopefully just the first step towards opening up most courtrooms to cameras and giving everyone a seat in the public gallery of our judicial system." He adds: "We anticipate that the next step should be to allow the filming of sentencing remarks in criminal trials, which the coalition government envisaged when it first announced the lifting of the camera ban two years ago."
 

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