Reporting restrictions - Crown -online crimes
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Hi,
Just wanted to let people know about my recent experience trying to get reporting restrictions.
When my ex was first sent to prison, there were no court reporters in the Crown Court on the day of sentencing. However, 6 weeks later, the Police press department sent my ex's photo, name, age, the road and town we lived in as a family, his crimes and sentence to the local Police FB page which was then picked up by local press. This was utterly horrendous for my 12 and 14 year olds as they were physically abused in school following this.
My ex reoffended and was at Crown Court last week for sentencing. Prior to this I'd written to the court asking for reporting restrictions due to mine and my adult child's vulnerabilities. They asked for details which I sent but I didn't hear anything further. The day before sentencing, the OIC rang to ask me for a statement which I did detailing my reasons for asking for restrictions. On the morning of sentencing, the prosecutor from the CPS phoned to explain to me what was going to happen regarding my request. He said that an application for reporting restrictions would need to be made to the court which would mean another adjournment but that it would be pointless because the Judge wouldn't allow restrictions despite our vulnerabilities because we are both over 18. However, he said the Judge would read my statement. During sentencing, my request for reporting restrictions was discussed and in the end, the Judge said given what I'd written in my statement and the fact that the ex's crimes were online only, his address would not be disclosed. This was very good news. It meant that it was highly unlikely that the local Police fb page would publish the case. The case could still be published using his name and photo etc but it's much less likely to end up being reported locally.
You might think that you're out of the woods because there isn't a reporter in court at sentencing, however they are often there remotely these days and anyway, the Police have a press department where they can send reports to social media and local press.
I wish I had better news but at least it appears reporting the address can be stopped in certain circumstances and if the crimes are online "only".
Just wanted to let people know about my recent experience trying to get reporting restrictions.
When my ex was first sent to prison, there were no court reporters in the Crown Court on the day of sentencing. However, 6 weeks later, the Police press department sent my ex's photo, name, age, the road and town we lived in as a family, his crimes and sentence to the local Police FB page which was then picked up by local press. This was utterly horrendous for my 12 and 14 year olds as they were physically abused in school following this.
My ex reoffended and was at Crown Court last week for sentencing. Prior to this I'd written to the court asking for reporting restrictions due to mine and my adult child's vulnerabilities. They asked for details which I sent but I didn't hear anything further. The day before sentencing, the OIC rang to ask me for a statement which I did detailing my reasons for asking for restrictions. On the morning of sentencing, the prosecutor from the CPS phoned to explain to me what was going to happen regarding my request. He said that an application for reporting restrictions would need to be made to the court which would mean another adjournment but that it would be pointless because the Judge wouldn't allow restrictions despite our vulnerabilities because we are both over 18. However, he said the Judge would read my statement. During sentencing, my request for reporting restrictions was discussed and in the end, the Judge said given what I'd written in my statement and the fact that the ex's crimes were online only, his address would not be disclosed. This was very good news. It meant that it was highly unlikely that the local Police fb page would publish the case. The case could still be published using his name and photo etc but it's much less likely to end up being reported locally.
You might think that you're out of the woods because there isn't a reporter in court at sentencing, however they are often there remotely these days and anyway, the Police have a press department where they can send reports to social media and local press.
I wish I had better news but at least it appears reporting the address can be stopped in certain circumstances and if the crimes are online "only".