The one court in the land to already allow TV cameras in to cover proceedings is the Supreme Court, where for the last 2 years cameras have been allowed to film proceedings. However, today they are discussing the possibility of broadcasting courtroom footage. They are talking about allowing the TV to cover sentencing and Judges Remarks and convictions, but not witnesses who might be put off of testifying if they thought they would end up on TV. Is this a good thing?
Firstly I guess it will show the British legal system as it truly is. Maybe, just maybe it will put some people off of offending if they see it is not like the TV dramas. Maybe we will end up with more judges standing for election for parliament and other such offices off of the back of it, as there public profile will be raised within the public domain. Maybe it will give the public a better understanding of sentences, and why they are handed out and why one person got a huge sentence and another got a light one. All of these are good points I guess.
So what about the negatives? OK, now bear with me on this. Firstly I feel that the only cases to get decent coverage would be salacious cases, the ones the public would find juicy and interesting, murders etc. Secondly, what happens if this system takes off and we end up with reality TV style court rooms, where people would actually carry out more serious crimes, or carry out a crime at all for the chance to be on TV? Dumb as this sounds, it is a real possibility with today’s society I fear. Thirdly, what happens when we end up with a charismatic criminal, one the cameras like and he goes on to become a ‘cult’ icon, or worse still to form a career off of the back of the TV coverage? Sad as these sounds, I fear that all these points are not only possible, but likely in today’s media driven society. Criminals will have their profiles raised by this, and for that one reason alone, I fear this new change to law (as the law currently bans TV cameras in court rooms) is a very dangerous one. If it is properly controlled as to safe guard against the rise of notoriety for criminals, then all well and good, but I think we all know that ratings drive TV, and TV bosses are not exactly known for the moral scruples.
Simply put I fear that this will have an adverse affect on our society.
Now discuss….
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