Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 7
7
Accepted in Part
HMCTS must enhance direct communication and provide media information to facilitate court reporting
Recommendation
As the public receives less information through the media on the work of the courts, HMCTS should do more to enable the courts to communicate information on court proceedings directly to the public. In addition, HMCTS needs to use technology and organisational reform, building on the work done with Courtsdesk News, to provide the media with the information it needs in a consistent manner, as soon as possible, to facilitate court reporting. HMCTS should also pilot the use of regional communication and information officers to support media and public access to hearings. Furthermore, the decrease in the media’s coverage of the courts also strengthens the case for the re- establishment of a courts’ inspectorate, which could help to identify wider issues within the justice system, particularly in the Magistrates’ courts and the Family Court, which are not well covered by the media. (Paragraph 33) 52 Open justice: court reporting in the digital age The barriers to open justice
Government Response Summary
The government highlights the implementation of legislation in July 2022 to allow broadcasting of Crown Court sentencing remarks, aiding public understanding. It also mentions an ongoing pilot with Courtsdesk to evaluate enhanced provision of magistrates’ court lists for media, with findings to be considered for future service improvements, but does not address piloting regional officers or re-establishing a courts' inspectorate.
Government Response
Accepted in Part
HM Government
Accepted in Part
Our response to JSC2 outlines some of the steps we are taking to make information about what happens in our courts and tribunals more accessible, including directly to the public. Further to this, in July 2022, the Government, working closely with the judiciary, implemented historic legislation which allows judges’ sentencing remarks to be recorded and broadcast live from our Crown Courts. Allowing television cameras into these courtrooms will help the public understand how our justice system works and see justice being delivered to those found guilty of serious criminal offences. We have built important safeguards into this broadcasting policy. Only approved media parties can request access to broadcast sentencing remarks, and this request must be approved by the relevant judge. Only the judge’s sentencing remarks may be filmed – not the whole trial – and no other court user will be filmed. Broadcast footage is subject to reporting restrictions. This is an important step forward and we will monitor its impact closely before considering any further changes. In relation to HMCTS communicating information on court proceedings directly to the public, it is important that HMCTS and the independent judiciary facilitate access to the proceedings that take place in our courts and tribunals in a way that is neutral and treats every court user equally. It is also important to recognise that the state cannot replace the separate role undertaken by a free and fair media. HMCTS provides guidance and information about coming to court in the form of direct communications to parties involved in cases; and to the general public through its online channels and information provided at courts and tribunals. A number of partners, who work directly with the public, also play an important role in communicating with specific groups (such as victims and witnesses) about the experience of coming to court. In 2020, HMCTS started working with the Caerphilly Observer and Courtsdesk to evaluate the effect of an enhanced provision of magistrates’ court lists and registers. The purpose of these pilots was to explore the benefits of providing listing and register information in a form that makes it easier to search, sort, and filter, and include alerts on topics of interest, with the aim of measuring any change in the quantity and/or quality of court reporting. Courtsdesk is currently undertaking an evaluation of this pilot. It will assess how successful the pilot has been at improving and increasing court reporting. HMCTS will carefully consider this evaluation when assessing how it distributes lists and when determining wider service improvements.