Manchester Crown Court to trial TV cameras
Manchester Crown Court is going to allow television cameras in court for the first time.
Sentencing remarks made by senior judges will be filmed in a pilot expected to start within weeks. The footage will not be broadcast but the historic move could pave the way for the first live coverage of Crown Court cases.
Until now filming has only been allowed at hearings at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court. Announcing the scheme, justice minister Shailesh Vara said: My hope is that this will lead to more openness and transparency as to what happens in our courts.Broadcasting sentencing remarks would allow the public to see and hear the judge's decision in their own words.''
Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd said: I am interested to see how this pilot progresses and will work with the Ministry of Justice to assess the impact of cameras in court.''
Manchester's Crown Square will be one of eight three-month pilots around England and Wales.
Safeguards will be put in place to make sure victims continue to be supported and the administration of justice is not affected, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said.
The cameras will film only the judge, and the filming of all other court users, including staff, victims, witnesses, defendants and advocates will remain banned. Crown Courts are open to the press and public but filming and recording is banned under section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925 and the Contempt of Court Act