Leeds courts in pilot filming experiment

THE Ministry of Justice has launched a pilot programme that allows cameras into Crown Courts to enable filming of procedures.

Leeds Crown Court is one of eight courts across the UK that is participating in the pilot.

Cameras would film sentencing remarks of nominated senior judges as part of a not-for-broadcast experiment.

Filming has been allowed before only at the Court of Appeal and Supreme Court.

Scottish broadcasters have been able to televise court proceedings since 1992.

Justice Minister Shailesh Vara said: “My hope is that this will lead to more openness and transparency as to what happens in our courts.

“Broadcasting sentencing remarks would allow the public to see and hear the judge’s decision in their own words.”