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Contempt of court

1. It is an offence to publish 1 material which creates a substantial (real) risk that the course of justice in the proceedings will be seriously impeded or prejudiced 2. This applies only if the relevant proceedings are active.

2. "Prejudicial material" includes previous convictions 3, confessions 4, assertions of guilt 5 and prejudicial photographs 6.

3. Section 2 of the Contempt of Court Act 1981 limits the common law rule that conduct may be treated as contempt regardless of intention, to circumstances where publication would create a substantial risk that justice will be seriously impended or prejudiced.

4. It is not a contempt of court if the risk of prejudice created by a publication is merely incidental to a discussion of matters of general public interest 7. You may wish, for example, to publish a report of an accident which is of public importance but contains material which may prejudice the defendant in particular proceedings. This will not constitute a contempt of court if the information is incidental to the main thrust of the report. You should seek legal advice if you have any doubts.

5. There is an express right to publish a fair, accurate and contemporaneous report of public legal proceedings 8. A report will be "contemporaneous" if published as soon as is practicable after any temporary legal restriction on reporting has ended9.

6. The court may order that the publication of certain matters heard in court should be postponed for a specified period, where there is a substantial risk of prejudice to the proceedings in question or any other proceedings pending or imminent10. For example, where one trial is part of a series and premature publication of evidence common to all of them might prejudice later proceedings, a court is likely to order that publication of information should be postponed.

7. However, courts are increasingly reluctant to impose postponement orders 11 where there is an alternative course of action 12 or to permit orders that are unnecessarily wide 13, especially where the risk is of only slight or trivial prejudice 14.

Footnotes

  1. For the definition of a "publication", see Contempt of Court Act 1981 ("CCA"), s.2(1).  At common law it is a contempt, with intent to impede or prejudice the administration of justice, to publish material calculated to prejudice the fair trial of a pending or imminent cause.  It is also a contempt of court to publish prejudicial matter knowing or having good reason to believe the criminal proceedings are imminent  For a detailed discussion of the case law, see Archbold 'Criminal Pleading, Evidence and Practice' (2010) edition, paragraphs 28-59 to 28-137. Back
  2. CCA 1981, S.2(2). A substantial risk is one that is more than minimal. For a possible defence (innocent publication or distribution), see CCA 1981, s.3. Back
  3. Solicitor General v News Group Newspapers Ltd [1990], COD 307 DC; Attorney General v Morgan and Another [1998] EMLR 294; Attorney General v Associated Newspapers Ltd. "The Independent", [1998] EMLR. 711, DC. Back
  4. Attorney General v Times Newspapers Ltd (February 12, 1983) DC. Back
  5. Attorney General v News Group Newspapers Plc [1989] QB 110, DC. Back
  6. Attorney General v News Group Newspapers Ltd. 6 Cr App. R(S) 418. Back
  7. CCA 1981, s.5. Back
  8. CCA 1981, s.4(1). Back
  9. For a report, which was neither fair, nor contemporaneous, see Walers v Sunday Pictorial [1961] 1 W.L.R. 967, CA. Back
  10. CCA 1981, s.4(2). Excessive publicity may be considered as prejudicial to the Defendant's chances of a fair trial and could result in an acquittal or a successful appeal. R v McCann [1991] 92 Cr App R 239; R v Taylor and Taylor, 98 Cr App. R.361 CA. Back
  11. It will rarely be appropriate to impose a postponement order on reporting of committal proceedings in view of the restrictions already imposed by s.8, MCA 1980: R v Beaconsfield Justices, ex parte Westminster Press Ltd TLR, 28 June 1994, QBD. Back
  12. R v Central Independent Television Plc [1991] 1 All ER 347 - overturning the trial judge's order postponing television and newspaper reports while the jury was deliberating on its verdict in the hotel overnight: even if there was a substantial risk of serious prejudice (which was doubted) it would have been more appropriate to order that the jury be denied access to television and newspapers while at their hotel. Back
  13. R v Horsham Justices, ex parte Farquharson [1982] All ER 269 - a blanket ban on publication of the entire proceedings ruled to be too wide; after the evidence had been led, the reporting of only that part which was necessary, in the interests of justice, to suppress for the time being should have been postponed. Back
  14. MGN Pension Trustees v Bank of America (Serious Fraud Office intervening) [1995] 2 All ER 355, Ch D. Back

Link URLs in this page

  1. Enforcementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/index.htm
  2. Enforcement guidehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/index.htm
  3. Introductionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/intro.htm
  4. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/index.htm
  5. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-intro.htm
  6. Order of collecting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-order.htm
  7. Witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-witness.htm
  8. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-questioning.htm
  9. Admissibility of confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-admissibility.htm
  10. Inferences from silencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/witness-inferences.htm
  11. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-intro.htm
  12. Evidence that may assist your investigationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-evidence.htm
  13. Obtaining evidence using section 20 powershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-obtaining.htm
  14. Preparing evidence for courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/physical-preparing.htm
  15. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-intro.htm
  16. The experthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-role.htm
  17. Site visitshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-sitevisits.htm
  18. The reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-report.htm
  19. At courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/expert-court.htm
  20. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-intro.htm
  21. Contract of employmenthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-contract.htm
  22. Specific categories of workershttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/status-specific.htm
  23. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-intro.htm
  24. Partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-partner.htm
  25. Companieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-companies.htm
  26. Joint ventureshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-ventures.htm
  27. Limited liability partnershipshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-liability.htm
  28. Other defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-defendants.htm
  29. Prosecution of foreign defendantshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-foreign.htm
  30. Insolvencyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-insolvency.htm
  31. Prosecution of individualshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-individual.htm
  32. Proceeding against employees HSWA s7https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-employees.htm
  33. Proceeding against Crown employeeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-crown.htm
  34. Proceedings against director, manager, secretary or other similar officerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/identifying-directors.htm
  35. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-intro.htm
  36. The prosecution reporthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-report.htm
  37. Approval of a proposed prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-approval.htm
  38. Evidential stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-evidential.htm
  39. Public interest stagehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-public.htm
  40. Selection of charges and mode of trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-charges.htm
  41. Cautionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-cautions.htm
  42. Enforcement against Crown bodieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-enforcement.htm
  43. Recording reasonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/investigation/approving-recording.htm
  44. Pre-trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/index.htm
  45. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-intro.htm
  46. Drafting informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-drafting.htm
  47. Legal referenceshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-legal.htm
  48. Sample informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/preparing-informations.htm
  49. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-intro.htm
  50. Criminal procedure ruleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-criminal.htm
  51. Jurisdictionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-jurisdiction.htm
  52. Informationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-information.htm
  53. Summonshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-summons.htm
  54. Initial details of the prosecution casehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-advance.htm
  55. Information to assist the sentencing courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-sentencing.htm
  56. Preparation for guilty plea in the magistrates courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/procedure-preparation.htm
  57. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-intro.htm
  58. Written statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-written.htm
  59. Supplying statements to witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-witness.htm
  60. Supplying statements to the defencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defence.htm
  61. Attendance of witnesseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-attendance.htm
  62. Formal admissionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-formal.htm
  63. Production of documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-production.htm
  64. Defendant's antecedentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/witness-defendant.htm
  65. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-intro.htm
  66. Key requirements of the CPIAhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-key.htm
  67. Investigations and relevant materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-investigations.htm
  68. Disclosure stageshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-disclosure.htm
  69. Preparing the scheduleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-preparing.htm
  70. Approach to common categories of materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/pretrial/after-approach.htm
  71. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/index.htm
  72. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-intro.htm
  73. General principleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-principles.htm
  74. Publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-publicising.htm
  75. Information which may be disclosedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-information.htm
  76. Sensitive caseshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-sensitive.htm
  77. Reporting committal proceedingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-committal.htm
  78. Contempt of courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-contempt.htm
  79. Reporting and Publicity - Abuse of process at common lawhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-abuse.htm
  80. European Convention on Human Rights (ECHR) considerationshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-echr.htm
  81. Reporting the trialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-trial.htm
  82. Defamation: libel and slanderhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-defamation.htm
  83. Breach of confidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-breach.htm
  84. Data protectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-data.htm
  85. Reporting and publicity - Freedom of informationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/reporting-foi.htm
  86. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-intro.htm
  87. Court procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-courtprocedure.htm
  88. Plea before venue and allocationhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-mode.htm
  89. Discontinuing a prosecutionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-discontinue.htm
  90. The hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-hearing.htm
  91. Objections and adjournmentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-objections.htm
  92. Contested cases - not guilty pleashttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/magistrates-contested.htm
  93. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-intro.htm
  94. Trial processhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-trial.htm
  95. Proving the offencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-prove.htm
  96. Key rules of evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/rules-key.htm
  97. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-intro.htm
  98. Witnesses giving evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-witnesses.htm
  99. Exclusion of evidence in courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-exclusion.htm
  100. Use of inadmissible confessionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/oral-confessions.htm
  101. Physical evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  102. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-intro.htm
  103. Exhibiting evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-exhibiting.htm
  104. Public documentshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-public.htm
  105. Proof of convictionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-proof.htm
  106. Sound and videotape recordingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-sound.htm
  107. Photographs, sketches and modelshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-photos.htm
  108. Maps and planshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-maps.htm
  109. Real evidence (material objects)https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-real.htm
  110. Computer evidencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-computer.htm
  111. Expert reportshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-expert.htm
  112. Depositionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-depositions.htm
  113. Written witness statementshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-written.htm
  114. Records required by statutory provisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-statutory.htm
  115. Continuityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/physical-continuity.htm
  116. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-intro.htm
  117. Rule against hearsayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-rule.htm
  118. Exceptions to the hearsay rulehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/hearsay-exceptions.htm
  119. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-intro.htm
  120. What is abuse of process?https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseprocess.htm
  121. Delayhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-delay.htm
  122. Double jeopardyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-double.htm
  123. Breach of promisehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-breach.htm
  124. Loss of evidence / failure to disclose unused materialhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-loss.htm
  125. Investigative improprietyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-investigative.htm
  126. Pre-trial publicityhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-pretrial.htm
  127. In magistrates' courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusemagistrates.htm
  128. Abuse of process in the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abusecrown.htm
  129. What to do if abuse is claimedhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-abuseclaimed.htm
  130. Recording decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/abuse-decisions.htm
  131. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-intro.htm
  132. Preparing for sentencing hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-preparing.htm
  133. The sentencing hearing and imposing the sentence https://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-hearing.htm
  134. Penaltieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-penalties.htm
  135. Costshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-costs.htm
  136. Model exampleshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/sentencing-examples.htm
  137. Crown courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-intro.htm
  138. Allocation Procedurehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-committal.htm
  139. At the Crown Courthttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-court.htm
  140. Committal for sentencehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/crown-sentence.htm
  141. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-intro.htm
  142. Prosecution rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-prosecution.htm
  143. Defence rights of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-defence.htm
  144. Rights of appeal for both partieshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-both.htm
  145. Appeals to European courtshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/court/appeals-european.htm
  146. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/index.htm
  147. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-intro.htm
  148. Conditions for a valid noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-conditions.htm
  149. Types of noticehttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-types.htm
  150. Drafting noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-drafting.htm
  151. Service of noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-service.htm
  152. Failure to complyhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/notices-failure.htm
  153. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-intro.htm
  154. Employment tribunals - Jurisdiction of the tribunalhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-jurisdiction.htm
  155. Notice of appealhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-appeal.htm
  156. Preparation for the hearinghttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-preparation.htm
  157. Employment tribunal hearingshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-employment.htm
  158. Tribunal decisionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-tribunal.htm
  159. Challenging tribunal decisionshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/notices/tribunals-challenges.htm
  160. Overviewhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/index.htm
  161. Introduction to the work related deaths sectionhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/intro.htm
  162. Investigation of work related deathshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/investigation.htm
  163. Coroner Inquestshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/chronology.htm
  164. The coronerhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/wrdeaths/coroner.htm
  165. Enforcement guide Site maphttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcementguide/sitemap.htm
  166. Register of convictions and noticeshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/convictions.htm
  167. Enforcement policy statementhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/enforcepolicy.htm
  168. Enforcement management modelhttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/emm.pdf
  169. List of Specialist Regulatory Advocateshttps://www.hse.gov.uk/enforce/assets/docs/regulatory-advocates.pdf

Glossary of abbreviations/acronyms on this page

CPIA
Criminal Procedure and Investigations Act

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Updated 2023-02-16