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Wednesday 4 January 2017

LOCAL COURT REPORTING OR BIG BROTHER HMCTS?

Social media, increasing costs, reduced advertising revenue  and myriad various reasons have been given for the reduction in court reporting by local print media.  That being said it was unusual to see in the Littlehampton Gazette the headline, "HM Courts Service;Results list for December 19th to 23rd 2016".  The format seems to indicate that the report was a press release from HMCTS directly and not written by a press reporter who was present or even an agency reporter`s submission. If the report was indeed compiled by a third party I would deem it a worthwhile contribution to the local population`s awareness of its local court  but if it were submitted by the former and published uncritically I would be less than joyous.  There has to be independent scrutiny of courts. Publications should not rely upon the state as the sole provider of such information. As a secondary thought; from the above  report of Joshua Lee of Hatfield Walk, Durrington, who was jailed for a total of 18 weeks what would the "ban short custodial sentences lobby" make of his case?

Joshua Lee, 22, of Hatfield Walk, Durrington, was jailed for a total of 18 weeks

Read more at: http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/news/crime/hm-courts-service-results-list-for-december-19-to-23-2016-1-7756014
HM Courts Service: Results list for December 19 to 23, 2016

Read more at: http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/news/crime/hm-courts-service-results-list-for-december-19-to-23-2016-1-7756014
HM Courts Service: Results list for December 19 to 23, 2016

Read more at: http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/news/crime/hm-courts-service-results-list-for-december-19-to-23-2016-1-7756014
HM Courts Service: Results list for December 19 to 23, 2016

Read more at: http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/news/crime/hm-courts-service-results-list-for-december-19-to-23-2016-1-7756014
HM Courts Service: Results list for December 19 to 23, 2016

Read more at: http://www.littlehamptongazette.co.uk/news/crime/hm-courts-service-results-list-for-december-19-to-23-2016-1-7756014

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