Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 10
10
Not Addressed
Paragraph: 52
Broadcasting of sentencing remarks reinforces need for up-to-date statistical information.
Conclusion
The broadcasting of sentencing remarks represents a potential game-changer for public understanding of sentencing in England and Wales. However, it also reinforces the need for up-to-date statistical information on sentencing practice and trends so that the sentencing remarks that are being broadcast can be understood in their proper context.
Government Response Summary
The government describes its existing initiative to broadcast sentencing remarks in Crown Courts and its purpose in increasing public understanding, but it does not address the committee's identified need for up-to-date statistical information to contextualise these broadcasts.
Paragraph Reference:
52
Government Response
Not Addressed
HM Government
Not Addressed
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.