Television cameras 'to be permitted to film in court' Cameras would be allowed to film sentencing in the court of appeal in the initial phase. Changes to the law permitting television cameras to film the sentencing of criminals are expected to be included in the Queen's speech in May. Downing Street and the Ministry of Justice have repeatedly expressed support for the scheme which, it is argued, would help the public understand complex legal procedures. In its initial phase, cameras would be allowed to film the judge's summing up and sentencing remarks in the court of appeal. If successful, filming would be extended to the crown court. A change in the law is required because cameras are forbidden in court under the 1925 Criminal Justice Act and the 1981 Contempt of Court Act. The proceedings of the supreme court at Westminster, however, are already broadcast live in their entirety. The highest court in the UK, which does not cross examine witnesses and defendants but deals with legal precedents, is governed by separate regulations. Sky News, ITN and the BBC said in a joint statement: "This would be a positive step forward for transparency and democracy and we welcome the opportunity to work with the judiciary to ensure justice can be seen to be done." John Battle, head of compliance for ITN, the broadcaster behind ITV News, Channel 4 News and 5 News, said allowing cameras in court would be an important landmark change to the judicial system. "It will bring greater openness to the judicial system, greater public awareness, and a greater understanding of the whole process of justice," he said. The lobbying has been going on for a significant period of time, starting in 1989. Over the last 10 years there has been significant lobbying by broadcasters and important staging posts that show that cameras in court work and do not affect proceedings. It's been a long road but in the interests of greater oppenness this is a significant landmark for change. Last September the justice secretary, Ken Clarke, said the government and judiciary were determined to improve transparency and public understanding of courts through allowing court broadcasting. We believe television has a role in increasing public confidence in the justice system. Broadcasting will initially be allowed from the court of appeal, and government will look to expand to the crown court later. All changes will be worked out in close consultation with the judiciary. That promise, it is now expected, will be delivered in the government's legislative programme for next year. In May last year, the director of public prosecutions, Keir Starmer, also backed the use of cameras in court, saying: "In principle I would support a proposal that judgments, judges' closing remarks and judicial sentencing in criminal cases could be televised. There may be a case for going further, although I would obviously not want to promote anything that adversely affected the ability of victims or witnesses to give their best evidence to the court. Therefore there would need to be appropriate safeguards, particularly in cases involving vulnerable individuals, and any requests to televise any part of the court process should be subject to the judge's individual discretion.