Part II Civil Jurisdiction and Procedure
Domestic proceedings
71 Newspaper reports of domestic proceedings. C1
F11
In the case of F2family proceedings in a magistrates’ court (other than proceedings under the Adoption Act 1976) it shall not be lawful for a person to whom this subsection applies—
a
to print or publish, or cause or procure to be printed or published, in a newspaper or periodical, or
b
to include, or cause or procure to be included, in a programme included in a programme service (within the meaning of the Broadcasting Act 1990) for reception in Great Britain,
any particulars of the proceedings other than such particulars as are mentioned in subsection (1A) below.
1A
The particulars referred to in subsection (1) above are—
a
the names, addresses and occupations of the parties and witnesses;
b
the grounds of the application, and a concise statement of the charges, defences and counter-charges in support of which evidence has been given;
c
submissions on any point of law arising in the course of the proceedings and the decision of the court on the submissions;
d
the decision of the court, and any observations made by the court in giving it.
1B
Subsection (1) above applies—
a
in relation to paragraph (a) of that subsection, to the proprietor, editor or publisher of the newspaper or periodical, and
b
in relation to paragraph (b) of that subsection, to any body corporate which provides the service in which the programme is included and to any person having functions in relation to the programme corresponding to those of an editor of a newspaper.
2
In the case of F2family proceedings in a magistrates’ court under the M1Adoption Act 1976, F3subsection (1A)above shall apply with the omission of paragraphs (a) and (b) and the reference in that subsection to the particulars of the proceedings shall, in relation to any child concerned in the proceedings, include—
a
the name, address or school of the child,
b
any picture as being, or including, a picture of the child, and
c
any other particulars calculated to lead to the identification of the child.
3
Any person acting in contravention of this section shall be liable on summary conviction to a fine not exceeding F4level 4 on the standard scale.
4
No prosecution for an offence under this section shall be begun without the consent of the Attorney General.
5
Nothing in this section shall prohibit the printing or publishing of any matter in a newspaper or periodical of a technical character bona fide intended for circulation among members of the legal or medical professions.