Orders of the Day — Criminal Justice Bill

Part of the debate – in the House of Commons at 3:35 pm on 4 December 2002.

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Photo of Simon Hughes Simon Hughes Shadow Spokesperson (Home Affairs) 3:35, 4 December 2002

The Home Secretary properly understands the difficulties that could arise with a retrial if press coverage of the first trial remains in the minds of a future jury. He knows too that there are wider concerns about the press coverage of trials the first time around, which begins from the moment a person is arrested. We can all think of such cases, without needing any reminder. Does the right hon. Gentleman and his colleagues across Government have in hand any review of the way in which the press can at present get away with condemning people, in effect, from immediately after their arrest right through to the end of the trial? Is that an item on the agenda? It is a big concern across the country.