NCTJ COURT REPORTING STUDY GUIDE 2025/2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Police bail - ✔✔For non-indictable offences, police can release suspect on condition
that they return at a later date. Duration is 28 days but can be extended for 3 months if
approved by a magistrate.
✔✔Crime and Disorder Act 1998 S52A - ✔✔Established tight reporting restrictions on
what can be published contemporaneously from a preliminary hearing at MC concerning
any indictable-only case or either-way case that retains the potential for jury trial.
✔✔What kind of hearings fall under S52A? - ✔✔Bail applications, hearings for 'plea-
before-revue', 'mode of trial' and 'sending for trial' procedures in cases which retain
potential for jury trial.
✔✔What can be reported under S52A? - ✔✔Name of court
Name/age/home address/occupation of accused
Charges
Names of counsel/solicitors
Dates/times of adjournments
Whether legal aid was granted
Basic protestations of innocence
The media also regularly report scene-setting info (length of hearing, clothing, s/he
spoke to confirm his/her name)
✔✔S52A and either-way cases - ✔✔charged - preliminary hearing - plea given
GUILTY PLEA = convicted, S52A lapses, and MC sentences
NOT GUILTY = allocation procedure continues, and
✔✔two types of either-way cases automatically sent to CC - ✔✔serious or complex
fraud
cases with child witnesses
✔✔Liability for S52A breach - ✔✔any proprietor, editor or published can be prosecuted
if publication breaches S52A. Penalty is a fine unlimited by statute.
✔✔S52A Breach case study - ✔✔In 2013, the Sun reported an alleged quote from a
defendant in manslaughter case - only fined £3350
✔✔when does S52A cease to apply? - ✔✔MC courts have a discretionary power to life
the restrictions, including by request of the defendant (defendant may want them lifted
so their legal counsel can appeal for witnesses.)
If defendant objects, MC has to decide if decision is in interests of justice.
HOWEVER, contempt of court risks remain even when restrictions lifted.
, ✔✔absolute discharge - ✔✔convicted of the crime but released because court feels no
further punishment is necessary
✔✔suspended sentence - ✔✔defendant convicted and given a prison sentence, but will
only be imprisoned if conditions are breached during a set time period
✔✔court bail - ✔✔where court grants defendant liberty until next court appearance (as
opposed to being remanded in custody)
✔✔CYPA (1933) S49 - ✔✔Automatic restrictions on identifying any juvenile under 18
involved in the proceedings of a youth court
Also applies to reporting on CC appeals of YC cases but doesn't apply to juveniles in
other CC cases.
✔✔Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (1999) S45 - ✔✔
✔✔When can CYPA S49 be lifted? - ✔✔to avoid injuice
to trace suspects
after conviction (if in public interest)
public interest - where publicity could help prevent further criminal activity or where
large groups are affected
✔✔Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (1999) S45A - ✔✔Discretionary order of
lifelong anonymity for juvenile (under 18) witnesses and victims in crown court case, but
this can only be made if court satisfied that quality of testimony will be diminished by
fear/distress of being ID-d.
✔✔Challenging S45 and S45A restrictions - ✔✔Orders can be lifted if media argue that
the effect of the order would impose a substantial and unreasonable restriction on
reporting of proceedings
✔✔CYPA (1933) S39 - ✔✔Court can use its discretion to order anonymity of any
juvenile involved in civil proceededings until they're 18
✔✔Magistrates Court Act (1980) S8C - ✔✔Automatic restrictions limiting
contemporaneuous restrictions of MC pre-trial hearings. When in force, media can only
report
✔✔Legal definition of treasure - ✔✔
✔✔Circumstances in which an inquest into a person's death must have a jury -
✔✔death was in custody/state detention and that death was violent, unnatural, or cause
is not known
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Police bail - ✔✔For non-indictable offences, police can release suspect on condition
that they return at a later date. Duration is 28 days but can be extended for 3 months if
approved by a magistrate.
✔✔Crime and Disorder Act 1998 S52A - ✔✔Established tight reporting restrictions on
what can be published contemporaneously from a preliminary hearing at MC concerning
any indictable-only case or either-way case that retains the potential for jury trial.
✔✔What kind of hearings fall under S52A? - ✔✔Bail applications, hearings for 'plea-
before-revue', 'mode of trial' and 'sending for trial' procedures in cases which retain
potential for jury trial.
✔✔What can be reported under S52A? - ✔✔Name of court
Name/age/home address/occupation of accused
Charges
Names of counsel/solicitors
Dates/times of adjournments
Whether legal aid was granted
Basic protestations of innocence
The media also regularly report scene-setting info (length of hearing, clothing, s/he
spoke to confirm his/her name)
✔✔S52A and either-way cases - ✔✔charged - preliminary hearing - plea given
GUILTY PLEA = convicted, S52A lapses, and MC sentences
NOT GUILTY = allocation procedure continues, and
✔✔two types of either-way cases automatically sent to CC - ✔✔serious or complex
fraud
cases with child witnesses
✔✔Liability for S52A breach - ✔✔any proprietor, editor or published can be prosecuted
if publication breaches S52A. Penalty is a fine unlimited by statute.
✔✔S52A Breach case study - ✔✔In 2013, the Sun reported an alleged quote from a
defendant in manslaughter case - only fined £3350
✔✔when does S52A cease to apply? - ✔✔MC courts have a discretionary power to life
the restrictions, including by request of the defendant (defendant may want them lifted
so their legal counsel can appeal for witnesses.)
If defendant objects, MC has to decide if decision is in interests of justice.
HOWEVER, contempt of court risks remain even when restrictions lifted.
, ✔✔absolute discharge - ✔✔convicted of the crime but released because court feels no
further punishment is necessary
✔✔suspended sentence - ✔✔defendant convicted and given a prison sentence, but will
only be imprisoned if conditions are breached during a set time period
✔✔court bail - ✔✔where court grants defendant liberty until next court appearance (as
opposed to being remanded in custody)
✔✔CYPA (1933) S49 - ✔✔Automatic restrictions on identifying any juvenile under 18
involved in the proceedings of a youth court
Also applies to reporting on CC appeals of YC cases but doesn't apply to juveniles in
other CC cases.
✔✔Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (1999) S45 - ✔✔
✔✔When can CYPA S49 be lifted? - ✔✔to avoid injuice
to trace suspects
after conviction (if in public interest)
public interest - where publicity could help prevent further criminal activity or where
large groups are affected
✔✔Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act (1999) S45A - ✔✔Discretionary order of
lifelong anonymity for juvenile (under 18) witnesses and victims in crown court case, but
this can only be made if court satisfied that quality of testimony will be diminished by
fear/distress of being ID-d.
✔✔Challenging S45 and S45A restrictions - ✔✔Orders can be lifted if media argue that
the effect of the order would impose a substantial and unreasonable restriction on
reporting of proceedings
✔✔CYPA (1933) S39 - ✔✔Court can use its discretion to order anonymity of any
juvenile involved in civil proceededings until they're 18
✔✔Magistrates Court Act (1980) S8C - ✔✔Automatic restrictions limiting
contemporaneuous restrictions of MC pre-trial hearings. When in force, media can only
report
✔✔Legal definition of treasure - ✔✔
✔✔Circumstances in which an inquest into a person's death must have a jury -
✔✔death was in custody/state detention and that death was violent, unnatural, or cause
is not known
