Law Project

 

Filming in court to be introduced– but it will be restricted

The ban on filming in UK courts is set to be revoked in certain circumstances in the next year, but Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has ruled that the proceedings will not become “theatrical”.

MPs had raised concerns that televised trials may encourage defendants to play up to the cameras and turn trials into a form of entertainment like in the USA, put those involved in the trial at risk or allow defendants to use legal privilege to abuse their victims with no risk of prosecution

However, Mr Clarke has now announced that under the current proposals it will only be the judge filmed whilst he or she passes sentence or makes comments on the case.

About the proposals, Mr Clarke said: “I strongly disapprove of any attempt for this to be used for people to make allegations against the victims or for the defendant to make a theatrical display in the witness box or for the jurors’ reaction to be filmed, or anything of this kind.

“We are talking about the judgments and what is said as part of his official duties by the judge, and at this stage I am not contemplating going any further.”

Filming in courts in most of the UK has been banned since 1925, but cameras have been allowed in Scottish courtrooms since 1992 in certain cases, such as the trial of Lockerie Bomber Abdelbaset al-Megrahi.

It is hoped that televising some areas of the legal process would make the law more transparent and accessible to the public, as well as encouraging more confidence in the system and clearing up misunderstandings and perceptions about the justice system.