Open reporting provisions extended to all family courts in “watershed moment for family justice”
FamilyFamily CourtFamily DivisionPresident of the Family DivisionSir Andrew McFarlaneNews
New open reporting provisions now apply in all family courts in England and Wales. This means that from Monday 27 January 2025 journalists and legal bloggers are able to report on what they see and hear whilst attending any family court, if a transparency order is granted. Journalists and legal bloggers can also request documents and speak to, and quote, people involved in proceedings. The open reporting provisions mean that there is a presumption that a transparency order, protecting the anonymity of the children and their families, is granted, unless there is a legitimate reason not to.
The new provisions follow the success of the Family Court Reporting Pilot, which started in January 2023, and was progressively rolled out over the next two years. At the end of 2024 the Family Procedure Rule Committee approved the extension to all family courts and made the required changes to the Family Procedure Rules and issued new practice directions.
President of the Family Division Sir Andrew McFarlane said: “The establishment of the open reporting provisions in all family courts in England and Wales is a watershed moment for family justice.
“Improving public understanding and confidence in the Family Court is of fundamental importance. Over the last two years there has been a presumption that journalists and legal bloggers can report what they see and hear from pilot courts in England and Wales. The reporting that we have seen has been significant, and includes coverage of issues affecting some of the most vulnerable people in our society, such as: children subject to Deprivation of Liberty Orders; the need to limit parental rights for convicted paedophiles and cases of child neglect or abandonment.
“There have been no known breaches of anonymity of children, and the aims of the pilot, to increase public understanding and awareness of the Family Court, are being realised. I am grateful to all in the court system who have supported the pilot, but I would particularly like to thank all of the journalists and legal bloggers who have engaged with the pilot over the last two years and would like to urge them and others to continue to report on these complex and vitally important issues.”
The extension of the open reporting provisions to the remaining family courts in England and Wales will follow stepped arrangements, as in the pilot, starting with public law cases, then private law cases and finally magistrates.
Notes to editors:
- The Reporting Pilot was launched in January 2023 in Leeds, Carlisle and Cardiff. In January 2024 it was extended to 16 further court areas. Information about the reporting pilot can be found on the webpage.
- Guidance for reporting from the family court can be found on the Transparency Implementation Group (TIG) webpage.
- Information about the TIG and training materials can be found on its webpage.
For questions about reporting from the family court please contact the Judicial Office Press Office – press.enquiries@judiciary.uk