Press Release: APPEAL welcomes TV cameras in court, but reforms "don't go far enough"

Charity welcomes TV cameras in court, but reforms "don't go far enough"

Press release from APPEAL - 16th January 2020

Law charity APPEAL welcomes today's announcement that TV cameras are to be allowed in Crown Courts in England and Wales for the first time as a positive step forwards for open justice. 

All Crown Court trials are currently audio recorded, but these are not made publicly available and transcripts can only be ordered with the court's approval and at cost. Video recording in court has been prohibited thus far. 

Emily Bolton, director of APPEAL, a law charity that represents alleged victims of wrongful convictions, commented:

“Increased transparency in our courts is welcome. Sunlight is the best disinfectant for our ailing justice system.

"However this proposal does not go far enough, and will lead to only a fraction of what goes on in our courts being visible to the public.
"For real transparency that will allow miscarriages of justice to be exposed, the Ministry of Justice must also end the reckless destruction of trial audio recordings after just 7 years and make transcripts accessible and affordable."

Notes to editors:

  1. APPEAL is a law charity that fights miscarriages of justice and demands reform of our justice system. www.appeal.org.uk 

  2. APPEAL's Open Justice Charter details our calls for increased transparency in the court system and can be read here: http://appeal.org.uk/open-justice

  3. Director Emily Bolton is available for interview. Please contact james@appeal.org.uk or call 0203 559 6375.

COMSopen justice charter, open justice, transparency, transcripts