Feature: Television cameras to be allowed into Britain's famous Old Bailey courtroom

Television cameras are to be allowed, for the first time ever, into Britain’s most famous criminal court, the Old Bailey, it was announced Sunday.

The courtroom in London has seen some of the most sensational and notorious trials in British history.

Although a three-month pilot scheme will not allow any recordings to be aired on television, supporters of televising major trials are hopeful it will open the doors to the broadcasting big cases.

The pilot scheme was announced in a joint statement by the Ministry of Justice and the Lord Chief Justice Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd.

The cameras will initially be able to film the sentencing remarks of nominated senior judges in 8 courts across England and Wales as part of a not-for-broadcast pilot.

As well as the Old Bailey, known officially as the Central Criminal Court, the cameras will also record cases at crown courts in Manchester, Birmingham, Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds, Cardiff and London’s Southwark Crown Court.

Government 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.”

Lord Chief Justice Thomas of Cwmgiedd said: “I am interested to see how this pilot progresses and will work with the Ministry of Justice to assess the impact of cameras in court.”

A MOJ spokesman said: “Safeguards will be put in place to make sure victims continue to be supported and the administration of justice is not affected.

“The cameras will film only the judge. The filming of all other court users, including staff; victims; witnesses, defendants and advocates will remain prohibited. The government will work with broadcasters to support the pilot at no cost to the public.

“The pilot will run for three months so that the Ministry of Justice and the judiciary can consider the pilot and ensure that justice is not affected by the presence of cameras in courtrooms.”

The tests will begin as soon as possible once the legislation is passed by parliament, possibly within weeks or months.

Crown Courts are already open to journalists and the public but under criminal and contempt of court law filming and recording is prohibited. It means during big cases broadcasters hire artists to draw scenes from courtrooms, usually showing drawings of defendants or witnesses.

The Old Bailey in central London dates back to the 1500s and was partly built on the site of the medieval Newgate Gaol. The original building was destroyed in the Great Fire of London in 1666. In the 1800s criminals sentenced to death were taken on a short walk from the Old Bailey along a path known as Dead Man’s Walk where they would be publicly executed by hanging.

Public hangings continued until 1868. The statue on the dome of the Old Bailey, shows Lady Justice in one hand holding scales representing the weighing of evidence. In her other hand she holds a sword representing punishment. It has become famous as a symbol of the British justice system. Endit