This page is from APP, the official source of professional practice for policing.
Information at the end of criminal proceedings
Police communicators may release information about court outcomes to improve public confidence in the criminal justice system.
Information during criminal proceedings
The release of material during criminal proceedings is set out in the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) Media Protocol.
The release of evidential material should be agreed by the CPS and can be released by the police.
Material relied on by the prosecution in open court should normally be provided to the media if requested. This includes material:
- read out in open court
- played in open court
- displayed in open court
- placed before a judge and/or jury and referred to in open court
The senior investigating officer (SIO) should record if a decision is made not to release information by the CPS or police, and an explanation should be provided to the media.
In deciding whether prosecution information is released to the media, the SIO should consider the views of:
- victims
- witnesses
- other people directly affected by the case, including family members, children and vulnerable adults
It remains the responsibility of the media to ensure that they comply with all their legal obligations, including reporting restrictions, in respect of material supplied under this protocol.