15 July 2008
Newspapers and other media can now access court registers containing the outcome of criminal cases and details of upcoming court cases free of charge, Secretary of State for Justice Jack Straw announced today.
Abolishing the fee for these publications charged by magistrates' courts since 1989, Jack Straw said:
'Media will now be better able to report accurately and factually, as they strive to do, on proceedings in magistrates' courts.
'This move will help increase confidence in the criminal justice system... It also supports compliance with obligations under the European Convention of Human Rights to ensure that trials are held in public.'
Media will be expected to meet common sense conditions (for instance, on security and destruction) relating to use of the publications.
In the longer term courts will be expected to publish their registers electronically, a less resource-intensive means of production.
Notes to editors
1. This was announced to Parliament on 15 July 2008, in answer to a Parliamentary Question from Philip Davies MP (Shipley). Jack Straw said:
'Having considered the matter carefully, I have decided that, subject to common sense conditions, this information should be provided to newspapers for free. This reverses the policy which has stood since 1989.'
2. There is a longstanding policy, dating back to at least 1989, when a circular was issued encouraging magistrates' courts to provide copies of the court register and court lists to the media. Within the instructions, it recommended that the news media be asked to meet: 'the full economic costs of providing the copies, to include the cost of materials and staff resources'. The principle of charging is not new. But in the light of representations received the government has decided to end these charges.
3. In addition to the circular above, guidance was previously issued by Sir Igor Judge (President of the Queen's Bench Division).