Tweet
divdiv class=story-body readability=54 span class=story-date#13; span class=date31 October 2013/span#13;span class=time-textLast updated at /spanspan class=time07:36 ET/span#13; #13;/span#13;#13; #13;#13;#13; #13; #13; !-- Embedding the video player --#13;!-- This is the embedded player component --#13;#13;#13; #13; #13;#13;#13;#13;!-- wwrights check --#13;!-- Empty country is used on test environment --#13;#13;#13;#13;div class=videoInStoryB readability=1#13; div id=emp-24758229-7326 class=emp#13; #13; #13; noscript#13; div class=warning readability=1#13; img class=holding src=http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/70823000/jpg/_70823967_de27.jpg alt=Scene in court four at the Court of Appeal/pstrongPlease turn on JavaScript./strong Media requires JavaScript to play./p#13; /div#13; /noscript#13; #13; !-- embedding script --#13; #13; /div#13; !-- companion banner -- #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- END - companion banner --!-- caption --p class=captionThe moment broadcasting began from the Court of Appeal/p#13; !-- END - caption --#13; #13; #13;#13;/div#13;!-- end of the embedded player component --#13;#13;!-- Player embedded -- #13; p class=introduction id=story_continues_1TV cameras have been allowed to record proceedings in one of the highest courts in England and Wales./p#13; pFilming is being allowed at the Court of Appeal for the first time, after a partial lifting of the long-standing ban on cameras in court./p#13; pSenior judges and major broadcasters welcomed the move, which the head of BBC News said was a landmark moment./p#13; pCameras are not yet allowed in crown courts and magistrates' courts./p#13; pLive broadcasting is possible in five courtrooms at the Royal Courts of Justice in London after years of campaigning by the BBC, ITN, Press Association and Sky News. Recordings can be made in 13 others./p#13; div class=story-feature wide readability=9#13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_2Continue reading the main story/a h2Analysis/h2#13; !-- pullout-items--#13; #13; !-- pullout-body--#13; pThere has always been something of an open justice disconnect between the fact that any member of the public can go and sit in a court but the court's proceedings could not be seen by the wider public watching on television./p#13; pHowever, the cause of cameras in court was not helped by high-profile televised trials abroad, like the sometimes unedifying one of OJ Simpson in America in 1994. It sparked fears of lawyers, judges and even witnesses showboating for the cameras, and television coverage focusing on the salacious details of a case at the expense of the evidence as a whole./p#13; pThe judiciary here has always been particularly concerned that nothing was done that might discourage victims, witnesses and jurors - those vital cogs in the justice system that ensure it functions - from taking part in cases. That is why the experiment is being limited initially to the Court of Appeal and is subject to strict limitations. /p#13; pIt marks both an historic change and a cautious first step. But England and Wales remains many years away from a full OJ Simpson-style televised criminal trial./p#13; #13; !-- pullout-links--#13; /div p id=story_continues_2Filming has been banned in courts - with the exception of the UK Supreme Court - since the Criminal Justice Act 1925./p#13; pLawyers' arguments and judges' comments will be allowed to be shown - but defendants, witnesses and victims will not. Only one courtroom will be covered a day./p#13; pThe most senior judge in England and Wales, Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas, said: My fellow judges and I welcome the start of broadcasting from the Court of Appeal./p#13; pThe Court of Appeal has, of course, been open to the public and to journalists for a long time./p#13; pThe change in the law which is now coming into force will permit the recording and broadcasting of the proceedings of the Court of Appeal./p#13; pThis will help a wider audience to understand and see for themselves how the Court of Appeal goes about its work./p#13; pSafeguards, including a time-delay system operated by a specialist video journalist, will be in place to protect normal court restrictions - such as contempt of court - and broadcasting regulations./p#13; pIn cases of appeals against conviction where there could eventually be a re-trial, the footage would only be aired once the case was concluded./p#13; pBBC director of news and current affairs James Harding said: This is a landmark moment for justice and journalism./p#13; !-- Embedding the video player --#13;!-- This is the embedded player component --#13;#13;#13; #13; #13;#13;#13;#13;!-- wwrights check --#13;!-- Empty country is used on test environment --#13;#13;#13;#13;div class=videoInStoryC readability=1#13; div id=emp-24742137-7327 class=emp#13; #13; #13; noscript#13; div class=warning readability=1#13; img class=holding src=http://news.bbcimg.co.uk/media/images/70797000/jpg/_70797040_kennedy.jpg alt=Baroness Helena Kennedy QC/pstrongPlease turn on JavaScript./strong Media requires JavaScript to play./p#13; /div#13; /noscript#13; #13; !-- embedding script --#13; #13; /div#13; !-- companion banner -- #13; #13; #13; #13; !-- END - companion banner --!-- caption --p class=captionBaroness Helena Kennedy says court highlights will be like goals in a football match/p#13; !-- END - caption --#13; #13; #13;#13;/div#13;!-- end of the embedded player component --#13;#13;!-- Player embedded -- pIt is a significant step on the way to helping millions of viewers gain a greater understanding of how our judicial system works./p#13; pBBC deputy director of news Fran Unsworth added: We've made our cameras very discreet./p#13; p ITN chief executive John Hardie said filming in courts would be for the benefit of open justice and democracy./p#13; pJohn Ryley, head of Sky News, said: Seeing justice being done will no longer be restricted to those members of the public who have the opportunity and time to go to court./p#13; div class=story-feature narrow#13; a class=hidden href=#story_continues_3Continue reading the main story/a h2 class=quote“spanStart Quote/span/h2#13;blockquote readability=1p class=first-childThere should be some awe about it and it shouldn't be turned into entertainment for the masses ”/p/blockquote#13;span class=endquoteEnd Quote/span#13; span class=quote-creditBaroness Helena Kennedy QC /span#13; span class=quote-credit-titleLabour peer/span#13;#13; /div p id=story_continues_3Footage can be used for news and current affairs but not in other contexts such as comedy, entertainment or advertising./p#13; pCourts minister Shailesh Vara told BBC Radio 4's Today programme it was a landmark moment for the justice system./p#13; pWe are trying to ensure there is a balance, so the public can see what is happening, and that will be restricted to what the lawyers put forward and what the judge has to say. /p#13; pBut on the other hand, we want to ensure that people are not intimidated and understand the justice system and are happy to come forward./p#13; pHowever, Labour peer Baroness Helena Kennedy QC said she was worried the development could undermine respect for the judicial system./p#13; pShe said: What I'm concerned about is something much more fragile, which is our liberty as citizens in this country that the legal system should be taken seriously./p#13; pThere should be some awe about it and it shouldn't be turned into entertainment for the masses and I don't trust the editors./p#13; pBarrister Michael Mansfield QC welcomed the move, saying it was long overdue./p#13; pYou have to remember justice is supposed to be public. It is public. You can walk in there today. The problem is that doesn't reach a wide enough audience and we're also subject to the editorial delights of various newspapers as to what they want to report, he said. /p#13; pIn Scotland, broadcasters have been able to apply to televise court proceedings since 1992 but this rarely happens./p#13; pScotland's most senior judge, Lord Gill, has announced the policy will be reviewed to take account of changes in technology./p#13; /div/divbrbrcentera href=http://www.wizardrss.comPowered By WizardRSS.com/a | a href=http://www.wizardrss.comFull Text RSS Feed/a | a href=http://www.amazon.com/RFID-Blocking-Cards-Identity-Protector/dp/B00CJHZLEWRFID/a | a href=http://www.wpzonbuilder.comAmazon Affiliate/a/center