Some UK trials and tribunals are to be live-streamed over the internet so people can watch them from home. All courts will have the power to allow proceedings to be broadcast online from today.
The new law covers crown and magistrates courts as well as family courts and tribunals. Anyone wanting to watch a case will have to give their full name and email address. Failing to follow court rules - for example by filming or taking a screenshot of the proceedings - would be contempt of court punishable by up to two years in prison.
Guidance for judges, seen by The Telegraph, says: “Open justice serves the key functions of exposing the judicial process to public scrutiny, improving public understanding of the process, and enhancing public confidence in its integrity.”
Judges will have the final say over whether proceedings are streamed and who can watch, but the guidance says remote viewing should be allowed if it is “in the interests of justice”. Reasons a judge could disallow streaming would include if it would 'put off' a witness from giving evidence or if reporting restrictions could be breached.
Judges will be able to either stream proceedings to another room - if not everyone can fit into the courtroom - or allow streaming online to individuals who identify themselves and agree to abide by court rules.
