[F157ZEOffences of recording or transmitting participation through live linksE+W
(1)It is an offence for a person to make, or attempt to make—
(a)an unauthorised recording, or
(b)an unauthorised transmission,
of an image or sound which is being transmitted through a live video link or transmitted through a live audio link.
(2)It is an offence for a person (P) to make, or attempt to make—
(a)an unauthorised recording, or
(b)an unauthorised transmission,
of an image of, or sound made by, any person (whether P or another person) while that person is participating in court proceedings through a live video link or a live audio link.
(3)It is a defence for a person charged with an offence under subsection (1) or (2) to prove that, at the time of the actual or attempted recording or transmission, he or she did not know, and could not reasonably have known, that the image or sound concerned—
(a)was being transmitted through a live video link or through a live audio link (in the case of an offence under subsection (1)), or
(b)was an image of, or sound made by, a person while that person was participating in court proceedings through a live video link or a live audio link (in the case of an offence under subsection (2)).
(4)A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding level 3 on the standard scale.
(5)For the purposes of this section it does not matter whether a person making, or attempting to make, a recording or transmission intends the recording or transmission, or anything comprised in it, to be seen or heard by any other person.
(6)For the purposes of this section a recording or transmission is “unauthorised” unless it is—
(a)authorised (generally or specifically) by the court, or
(b)authorised (generally or specifically) by the Lord Chancellor.
(7)The court's power under subsection (6)(a) may be exercised by a single justice.]
Textual Amendments
F1Ss. 57ZA-57ZF and cross-heading inserted (temp.) (25.3.2020) by virtue of Coronavirus Act 2020 (c. 7), s. 87(1), Sch. 26 (with ss. 88-90) (which affecting provision expires (10.12.2021) by virtue of The Coronavirus Act 2020 (Early Expiry) (No. 2) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/1399), regs. 1(2), 4)