Court on camera

Live broadcasting inside the Court of Appeal has received final approval in the House of Commons.

From October, the filming of legal arguments and the final judgment in the Court of Appeal will be allowed. Cameras will be placed in certain courts at the Royal Courts of Justice where they will be able to film criminal and civil appeals. Advocates' arguments, and the judges' summing up, decision and (in criminal cases) sentencing remarks may be filmed.

Courts Minister Helen Grant said:

"Justice must be seen to be done, that is why we are introducing limited television broadcasting in courts from next month.

We are opening up the court process to allow people to see and hear the judges' decisions in their own words, but we will also ensure that victims and witnesses will not be filmed and will remain protected."

The costs of broadcasting will be covered by media organisations. Decisions as to exactly which cases are broadcast will be subject to necessary judicial checks, including where it would not be in the interests of justice to broadcast footage or would cause undue prejudice to any party.

The proposals will now be debated in the House of Lords before coming into effect in October.