Journalists in court bolstered by procedural update

From this week, the updated Criminal Procedure Rules explicitly require parties who apply for discretionary reporting restrictions in criminal cases to notify journalists of their application. The update applies to discretionary restrictions—for example, to protect vulnerable witnesses—as opposed to automatic restrictions in youth cases and certain offences.

Sayra Tekin, director of legal, News Media Association, said: ‘A clear and unequivocal requirement for parties to notify the media of reporting restriction applications will result in much greater clarity for both media and the courts, strengthening open justice.’

Georgia Jerram, chair of the HM Courts and Tribunal Service Media Working Group, said: ‘When journalists aren’t given clear and timely information about requests to the court for a reporting restriction, they are denied the opportunity to make a challenge.’