The government is reportedly on the verge of throwing its weight behind the idea of televising the sentencing of offenders in court.

It won’t quite be Judge Judy, but the Guardian reports that prime minister David Cameron is to announce the plans at a forthcoming speech on crime. The idea is being vaunted as a further sign of Cameron’s commitment to transparency in public services.

A spokesman for No. 10 has said that “this is something we’re looking at”, although the Guardian has it on good authority that the government is “firmly committed to the plan”. Full trials are not being considered in order to protect witnesses.

Although Cameron is expected to trumpet the idea, the real push for live sentencing has come from television companies, which have long argued for greater access to the courts.

The head of Sky News, John Ryley, has championed the idea and in December penned an article for the Guardian suggesting that the trial of six MPs accused of abusing parliamentary priviliges would have been ideal for broadcast, under the justification of the public interest.

(Source: MediaGuardian)

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