Impress is delighted that journalists across England and Wales will now have greater access to report on cases held at family courts after a successful trial.
The decision comes in the wake of a pilot scheme that saw reporters into select family courts across England and Wales.
Initially, the scheme saw three courts allow reporters into hearings but that was later extended to include 19 of the 43 family courts. Now, all 43 family courts will enable reporters to put forward transparency requests.
This means that journalists who attend such trials will, for the first time, be allowed to speak to the families involved in the cases, quote from court documents, and describe what happens in the court itself.
On the decision, Impress CEO Lexie Kirkconnell-Kawana said:
“Transparency from public bodies such as the courts is essential to open justice. Allowing journalists the freedom to report from family courts is a big step forward; this can be a challenging and sensitive area of reporting, balancing privacy and safeguarding of those involved and the public interest.”
“We now encourage both judges and journalists to work together to ensure the public has access to important information that could emerge from these trials moving forward and, as always, to report that information with absolute accuracy and within the confines of high editorial standards.
“Impress will remain on hand to offer advice and guidance to any publishers with concerns.”
What did the pilot scheme involve?
The initial pilot scheme saw courts in Carlisle, Cardiff and Leeds open their doors to reporters, although access was limited to “public law cases”, where a judge decides whether or not a child should be taken into care.
More locations were later added, with journalists subsequently able to apply for Transparency Orders in Liverpool, Manchester, West Yorkshire, Hull, the Midlands, Dorset, Truro, Luton, Guildford, Milton Keynes and all of London’s family courts.
What happens now?
While journalists will now be able to apply for Transparency Orders in all family courts – which would allow them to report what they see and hear, access key documents and speak to families – judges will retain the authority to reject such requests.
However, the new rules also come with a presumption in favour of reporting, which should lead to an increase in the number of orders accepted.
The changes will come into affect on January 27 2025, but the rollout will be staggered and, as in the pilot, transparency will first apply to public law cases, then to private law, where parents are separating, and lastly to magistrates’ courts.
How can Impress help?
Impress provides robust and detailed guidance when it comes to court reporting as part of its progressive Standards Code. Applying those same standards to reporting from family courts will stand all reporters in good stead.
Clause 6 of the Code requires journalists to avoid publishing material that could prejudice a trial and to avoid doing anything that obstructs an investigation. This could include publishing confidential information or interfering with evidence.
In these family courts, members of the relevant families and individual social workers will remain anonymous. As such, publishers must take care not to name anyone involved, nor reveal details that could lead to jigsaw identification of any kind.
Full information on the reporting pilot can be found here.
About Impress
Impress is a champion for news that can be trusted. We are here to make sure news providers can publish with integrity; and the public can engage in an ever-changing media landscape with confidence. We set the highest regulatory standards for news, offer education to help people make informed choices and provide resolution when disputes arise.
Media enquiries
Louie Chandler: louie@impressorg.com / 02033076778
