Filming trials in UK courts

Doodledog

MaizieD

It is only intended to televise the sentencing.

Why are people leaping to conclusions about what will be shown and objecting to something that isn't about to happen?

Because the question in the OP is should trials be filmed and broadcast in full?

Speaking for myself, I was answering that, not leaping to conclusions at all.

I stand corrected. I didn't read the OP properly.

I actually agree with you that whole trials shouldn't be televised. Sentencing only is fine in my book.

No worries ?.

I have a horrible feeling that I would be a hypocrite and watch trials if they were televised, but I don’t approve - I need protecting from myself

Well it would be compulsive viewing, wouldn't it? How could we resist seeing real life high profile court proceedings if they were on TV. Your natural instinct is to watch the story unfold.

Humans have a desire to see what they shouldn't. Public executions were watched by thousands at one time. Romans watched gladiators, chariot racing and Christians being fed to the lions, all good exiting entertainment.

It's only the sentencing that's being filmed, when the judge explains how they have reached their verdict, then it's hardly a media circus.
What it might do is give people more insight into the grounds on which the sentence was decided and perhaps stop them having knee jerk reactions to some sentences.

I agree. Sometimes the sentencing on some crimes seems very lenient and so it would be interesting to see how a judge comes to the decision that they do.

Very conflicted on this. Trials, by and large are open for public scrutiny, but courts can only accommodate a limited number in the public gallery and high interest cases will attract larger numbers......
On the other hand justice isn't, and should never be, a source of gratuitous entertainment......
Having said that I did see a recording of the televised sentencing which didn't, in my opinion, explain the reasoning behind the sentence.
I've done jury service 4 times, some of the barristers can be very theatrical, playing to the gallery (in this case the jury)... I worry this could be exaggerated were TV cameras to be present...
So on balance I'm probably marginally against, but open to persuasion.