Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Paragraph: 48
Explore using the Common Platform to produce accessible sentencing data for the public.
Conclusion
The Crown Court Sentencing Survey provided a rich dataset on how sentences are determined. It should be possible to use the Common Platform, the new case information system used in the criminal justice system, to produce a valuable dataset on sentencing without imposing additional burdens on the courts and the Sentencing Council. The Ministry of Justice, HMCTS and the Sentencing Council should explore how the Common Platform can be used to produce useful sentencing data that can be presented in a way that is accessible to the public.
Government Response Summary
The government highlighted its existing initiative to allow television cameras to broadcast judges' sentencing remarks in Crown Courts and the Court of Appeal to improve public understanding, but did not address the recommendation to explore using the Common Platform for producing accessible sentencing data.
Paragraph Reference:
48
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
9. Public education: Since July 2022, television cameras have been allowed into Crown Courts for the first time to broadcast judges’ sentencing remarks. Allowing broadcasting in this way is intended to help the public better understand how our justice system works and see justice being delivered to build trust and confidence in the system. The public can access the Sky News (Courts) YouTube channel where all previous broadcast sentencing remarks are available to view. We have recently expanded the range of judiciary who can be filmed, to include Court of Appeal judges sitting in the Crown Court, who sometimes preside over the most high-profile and serious cases. However, not all sentencing remarks are filmed as applications to film are made by approved media parties and approval is at the discretion of the judiciary. Crown Court broadcasting of sentencing remarks built on the success of live streaming of cases from the Court of Appeal, which began in 2019. Most cases from the Court of Appeal (civil division) are live streamed on the judiciary’s YouTube channel.