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Court Reporting Guide for UK Journalists

The UK court system, reporting restrictions, contempt risk, specific courts (magistrates, Crown, youth, family, coroner’s), practical checklists, and what to do when things go wrong. Essential reading before you cover a single hearing.

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Active proceedings warning. Once criminal proceedings are “active” under the Contempt of Court Act 1981, publishing anything that creates a substantial risk of seriously prejudicing those proceedings is contempt — regardless of intent. This applies to online posts, social media, and live blogs as much as print. If in doubt, do not publish until proceedings conclude. See contempt guidance below.

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This hub is for journalists at any level who need to cover UK courts — whether it is your first magistrates hearing or a complex multi-defendant Crown Court trial. Court reporting is one of the most legally exposed areas of journalism: get the foundations right before you report a single word.

Complete beginner? Start with the Court Reporting Guide. Worried about contempt? Jump to Contempt risk. Covering an inquest? See the Inquest Reporting Guide. For broader media law context, visit the UK Media Law hub.

On this page

UK Court Structure

Understanding which court you are in — and its place in the hierarchy — determines what you can report, who sits in judgment, and whether an appeal is possible.

Supreme Court
Final court of appeal for all UK civil cases and English/Welsh/NI criminal cases. Hears points of law of general public importance.
Court of Appeal
Hears criminal appeals from Crown Court (Criminal Division) and civil appeals (Civil Division). Judgment is usually reserved.
High Court
Three divisions: King's Bench (contract, tort, judicial review), Chancery (property, company law), Family. Sits in London and regional centres.
Crown Court
Trials on indictment (jury trials), sentencing from magistrates, and appeals from magistrates. Judges are Circuit Judges, Recorders, or High Court Judges.
Magistrates Court
Most criminal cases start (and 95% end) here. District Judges or Justices of the Peace. Summary offences, either-way offences, and first hearings of indictable cases.
Coroner's Court
Investigates deaths that are sudden, unexplained, violent, or in state custody. Not a criminal court. Jury in certain circumstances. Returns findings not verdicts.
Court Reporting Guide UK
Full walkthrough of the court system, what to expect in each court, and how to file copy from court.
Defamation & Absolute Privilege
Fair and accurate reports of court proceedings are protected by absolute privilege — what that means in practice.

Reporting Restrictions

Reporting restrictions are statutory limits on what you can publish. Some are automatic; others require a court order. Breach is contempt of court.

Sexual offence anonymitySexual Offences (Amendment) Act 1992
Automatic lifetime anonymity for victims. Applies from the moment of the allegation, not conviction.
Youth anonymity in youth courtChildren and Young Persons Act 1933, s49
Automatic. Covers defendants, victims, and witnesses under 18 in youth courts.
Section 4(2) postponement ordersContempt of Court Act 1981, s4(2)
Court order postponing reporting until specified event (e.g. linked trial concluded). Must state reasons.
Section 11 ordersContempt of Court Act 1981, s11
Withholds name or matter from open court. Common for blackmail victims, national security.
Family court restrictionsAdministration of Justice Act 1960, s12
Automatic restriction on publishing family court proceedings. Very limited disclosure permitted.
Magistrates committal restrictionsCrime and Disorder Act 1998
Automatic restrictions on reporting allocation and sending hearings at magistrates court.

Contempt Risk

The strict liability rule applies once proceedings are active. You do not need to intend to prejudice proceedings — the test is whether publication creates a substantial risk of serious prejudice.

Contempt of Court for UK Reporters
The complete guide: active proceedings, substantial risk test, social media contempt, and what penalties look like.
Election Reporting Rules
Contempt considerations during elections — reporting on candidates facing criminal proceedings.

High-risk publication types during active proceedings

  • Prior convictions or pending charges not before the current court
  • Bad character evidence not yet adduced at trial
  • Interviews with witnesses about their expected evidence
  • Photographs of defendants not yet identified in court
  • Speculation about guilt, motive, or likely verdict
  • Social media posts repeating above information from third parties

Magistrates Court

Most reporters encounter the magistrates court first. Ninety-five per cent of all criminal cases are disposed of here. The hearings are generally open, fast-moving, and information-rich.

First hearings
Bail applications, sending to Crown Court, entering pleas. Very limited information available at this stage — do not pre-judge.
Summary trials
Full trials before a District Judge or bench of magistrates. No jury. You can report what is said in open court once proceedings are no longer active.
Allocation hearings
Either-way offences: defendant chooses Crown Court trial or summary disposal. Automatic reporting restrictions on the prosecution case.
Sentencing
Magistrates can imprison up to 12 months (for two either-way offences) and/or fine. Report sentence, any ancillary orders (restraining order, disqualification, etc.).

Crown Court

Crown Court trials are the highest-profile court assignments. Jury selection, opening speeches, evidence, closing speeches, summing-up, verdict, and sentence can span weeks or months.

Crown Court Reporting Essentials
Jury selection, what you can report during trial, absolute privilege, and filing copy on verdict day.
Contempt During Crown Court Trials
What you must never publish while a jury is deliberating, and social media pitfalls during high-profile trials.

Youth & Family Courts

Youth and family courts are the most legally sensitive court assignments. Automatic statutory restrictions mean that identifying any young person involved in proceedings — directly or indirectly — is a criminal offence.

Youth court: what the s49 restriction covers

  • Name, address, school of any defendant, victim, or witness under 18
  • Any photograph or image of a young person involved in proceedings
  • Anything that, taken together with other published information, would identify the young person
  • Information about siblings, parents, or carers that could lead to identification

Coroner’s Courts & Inquests

Inquests are inquisitorial, not adversarial. The coroner investigates the facts of a death; the finding (not verdict) addresses who died, when, where, and how. Inquests frequently produce the most significant public interest journalism.

Inquest Reporting Guide
Coroner's court procedure, what a jury can find, naming the deceased, and s8 prohibitions on jury conclusions.

Sentencing & Appeals

Sentencing hearings are some of the most read court stories. Report the sentence accurately — including any suspended elements, ancillary orders, and licence periods. An appeal does not re-open contempt concerns unless it creates new active proceedings.

Custodial sentences
Report the headline sentence, the period actually to be served, and any licence period. Suspended sentence orders carry conditions — report them.
Ancillary orders
Sexual Harm Prevention Orders, Restraining Orders, Driving Disqualification, Confiscation Orders, Serious Crime Prevention Orders — all reportable and often significant.
Victim impact statements
Often read in open court at sentence — fully reportable as part of proceedings. Take care if they contain information about the victim's identity that is otherwise restricted.
Appeals
An appeal to the Court of Appeal creates new active proceedings — strict liability contempt applies again. Be careful about what you publish while an appeal is pending.

Practical Checklists

Before attending a hearing

  • ☐Check the court list in advance — names, case references, hearing type
  • ☐Look up whether any reporting restrictions already apply (prior orders)
  • ☐Research any prior court appearances in the case (What charges? What stage?)
  • ☐Check whether any defendants are under 18
  • ☐Confirm the case involves no sexual offence complainant with anonymity
  • ☐Note the judge's name — useful if you need to challenge a restriction

Before publishing a court report

  • ☐Are proceedings still active? If so, apply strict liability contempt test
  • ☐Does any part of the report identify a sexual offence victim?
  • ☐Does any part identify a person under 18 in a youth or family court case?
  • ☐Is the report fair and accurate — a contemporaneous account of what was said in open court?
  • ☐Have you included the defendant's response / have you given them the chance to respond?
  • ☐Are all ancillary orders accurately described?
  • ☐Does the headline accurately reflect the verdict or stage of proceedings?

In-depth guides

Detailed coverage of specific courts, restrictions, and reporting challenges across England & Wales, Scotland, and Northern Ireland.

Magistrates Court Daily Practice
Daily list, court clerks, jurisdictional limits, and charging vs sentencing.
Crown Court Reporting in Detail
Indictable offences, jury trial, sentencing remarks, and transcript access.
Family Court Transparency Pilot
PD36J, what can and cannot be named, and judicial discretion.
Coroner Court & PFD Reports
Inquests, Article 2 jury inquests, and Regulation 28 PFD reports.
Youth Court & Section 49
Automatic anonymity, Section 45 YJCEA 1999, lifting orders, and jigsaw identification.
Sexual Offences Anonymity
SOAA 1992 lifetime anonymity, naming the convicted, waiver, and jigsaw risk.
Tribunal Reporting UK
Employment, immigration, mental health, and Upper Tribunal hearings.
Civil Court Reporting
County Court, High Court, BAILII judgments, and qualified privilege.
Scottish Courts Overview
Court of Session, Sheriff Court, Procurator Fiscal, and Scottish contempt.
NI Courts Overview
NI Magistrates, Crown Court, PPS NI, and legacy proceedings.
Court Photography Restrictions
Section 41 CJA 1925, Supreme Court exceptions, and artist impressions.
Attribution in Crime Reporting
Suspect vs accused, absolute privilege, and the fair-and-accurate test.

All Court Reporting Guides

Court Reporting Guide UKContempt of CourtInquest Reporting GuideElection Reporting RulesDefamation & Privilege

Tools & Templates

Contempt Checker
10-question check for active proceedings and substantial risk of prejudice (CCA 1981 s.2).
Reporting Restrictions Checklist
What you can and cannot publish under youth court, sexual offences, family court, s.4(2), s.11 rules.
Defamation Risk Checklist
Pre-publication risk score for any court report containing allegations.
UK Media Law Hub
Full coverage of defamation, contempt, privacy, and legal threats for journalists.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can a journalist attend any UK court hearing?
Open justice is a fundamental principle of UK law. Journalists have a right to attend virtually all criminal court hearings, including magistrates courts and Crown Court trials. Family courts and youth courts are more restricted — journalists may attend under the Crime and Courts Act 2013 amendment, but reporting restrictions are tighter. Coroners' courts are generally open. Private hearings in civil courts may exclude the press, but reasons must be given.
What makes proceedings "active" for contempt purposes?
Under the Contempt of Court Act 1981 (Schedule 1), criminal proceedings become active from the earliest of: arrest without warrant, issue of a warrant for arrest, service of a summons, the accused being orally charged, or the accused being sent for trial. They cease to be active when the defendant is acquitted, convicted, the case is discontinued, or the accused dies. The moment proceedings are active, the strict liability rule for contempt applies to your reporting.
What is a section 4(2) reporting restriction order?
Under section 4(2) of the Contempt of Court Act 1981, a court can order that publication of a report of proceedings (or part of them) be postponed until a specified time — typically until a related trial is complete or a jury is discharged. Breaching a s4(2) order is contempt of court. Courts must give reasons when making these orders and they should be recorded. You can challenge a s4(2) order, and the media industry's legal teams routinely do so.
Can I name defendants in magistrates court?
Yes, in the vast majority of cases. Open justice means defendants can be named at magistrates court. Exceptions include: cases involving sexual offence complainants (who have lifetime anonymity), defendants under 18 (usually protected), and cases where a specific restriction order has been made. If you are unsure, check with the court clerk before publication, not after.
Are there automatic reporting restrictions in youth courts?
Yes. Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 imposes automatic restrictions on identifying defendants, witnesses, and victims under 18 in youth courts. Journalists may attend youth courts under the 2013 reforms, but they cannot publish anything that identifies a young person involved in proceedings unless the court specifically lifts the restriction under s49(4A). The restriction applies to names, addresses, schools, photos, and anything else likely to lead to identification.
Can I report what happens in family courts?
Family courts are now generally open to accredited press under Practice Direction 36J (as amended). However, very strict reporting restrictions apply automatically — you cannot publish anything that identifies the child at the centre of proceedings, the parties, the witnesses, or the experts. What you can report is limited to the general nature of the issues, the judgment where published, and matters the court specifically permits. Always check the current direction with the judge or clerk before reporting.
Can I use a recording device or take photographs in court?
No. Section 41 of the Criminal Justice Act 1925 prohibits taking photographs in court, in the building, or in the court precincts. The Criminal Justice Act 1925 also covers sketching. The use of any electronic device to make an audio or video recording of proceedings without the permission of the court is contempt under the Criminal Justice Act 1925. Live text-based updates (tweeting) are permitted at the judge's discretion. Always request permission before starting.
What should I do if a court clerk or usher tries to bar me from a hearing?
Politely assert your right to attend under the principle of open justice (Contempt of Court Act 1981, s11 and the Crime and Courts Act 2013). Ask for the matter to be raised with the judge directly. If you are excluded from a hearing that should be open, take a note of the time, the court room, and who excluded you. Contact the Society of Editors, Press Association, or your outlet's legal team. You can apply to the judge to be admitted.

Related hubs

UK Media Law
Defamation, contempt, privacy, copyright, and legal threats — the full picture.
Journalism Ethics
NUJ Code, IPSO Editors' Code, and ethical decision-making for court reporters.
Journalist Safety
Covering sensitive cases safely, witness intimidation, and working in hostile environments.
FOI & Data Journalism
HMCTS transparency data, court statistics, and requesting court documents via FOI.

Bookmark the Court Reporting Hub

Keep the pre-publication checklist and contempt guide open in a tab when you are covering live court cases. Updated whenever legislation or court practice directions change.

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