NCTJ COURT REPORTING FINAL PAPER 2025/2026
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Under the Criminal Procedures Rules 2011, what eight pieces of information can we
expect from the
courts regarding on-going or recent cases? Do we need to explain why we need the
information? Can
we ask for it orally? - ✔✔Date of any public hearing.
Offence.
Plea.
Decision about bail.
Outcome.
Identity of the defendant/prosecutor/lawyers/judges/magistrates.
Any reporting restrictions.
No.
Yes.
✔✔Describe three societal benefits of open justice. - ✔✔Promotes public confidence in
the criminal justice system.
Deters inappropriate behaviour by the court.
Opens to scrutiny the process of justice.
Enables society to judge the quality of justice administered and whether the law needs
modification.
Puts pressure of witnesses to tell the truth.
Can result in evidence becoming available.
Deters anyone considering committing crime.
✔✔What is the single justice procedure? - ✔✔A procedure by which a single magistrate
deals with a summary offence in private if the defendant has admitted the offence or
does not object to a private trial.
✔✔Give three examples of offences usually dealt with by the single justice procedure. -
✔✔Rail fare evasion.
TV license evasion.
Traffic offences.
✔✔Why is the single justice procedure controversial? - ✔✔It goes against the principle
of open justice.
✔✔Why was the single justice procedure invented? - ✔✔To save money/cut costs.
✔✔What is the purpose of a coroner's inquest? - ✔✔To find out who the deceased was
and how/when/where they met their death.
✔✔In what circumstances must coroners sit with a jury? - ✔✔If the death was at work.
, If the death was caused by poisoning.
If the police were involved in any way.
✔✔Which section of which act gives lifelong anonymity to vulnerable or intimidated
adult witnesses? - ✔✔Section 46 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act.
✔✔Who does Section 46 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act give lifelong
anonymity to? - ✔✔Vulnerable or intimidated adult witnesses.
✔✔In what circumstance is Section 46 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act
used? - ✔✔If being named would limit their evidence or co-operation in the case due to
their level of fear or
distress.
✔✔Who does Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 provide
anonymity to? - ✔✔Any juvenile "concerned in proceedings" in a Youth Court.
✔✔Which section of which act provides automatic anonymity to any juvenile "concerned
in proceedings" in a Youth Court? - ✔✔Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons
Act 1933.
✔✔What is the scope of anonymity? - ✔✔Name.
Address.
School/Workplace.
Any still or moving image.
Anything that could lead to their ID.
✔✔n what three circumstances can Section 49 anonymity be lifted? - ✔✔In the public
interest - if crimes are persistent or notorious or affect large numbers of the community.
To avoid injustice.
If the young person is "unlawfully at large".
✔✔At what point does Section 49 anonymity end? - ✔✔Once the juvenile turns 18.
✔✔Which section of which act provides anonymity to juveniles appearing in adult
courts? - ✔✔Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.
✔✔Who does Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 provide
anonymity to? - ✔✔Juveniles appearing in adult courts.
✔✔At what point does Section 45 anonymity end? - ✔✔Once the juvenile turns 18.
QUESTIONS WITH ANSWERS GRADED A+
✔✔Under the Criminal Procedures Rules 2011, what eight pieces of information can we
expect from the
courts regarding on-going or recent cases? Do we need to explain why we need the
information? Can
we ask for it orally? - ✔✔Date of any public hearing.
Offence.
Plea.
Decision about bail.
Outcome.
Identity of the defendant/prosecutor/lawyers/judges/magistrates.
Any reporting restrictions.
No.
Yes.
✔✔Describe three societal benefits of open justice. - ✔✔Promotes public confidence in
the criminal justice system.
Deters inappropriate behaviour by the court.
Opens to scrutiny the process of justice.
Enables society to judge the quality of justice administered and whether the law needs
modification.
Puts pressure of witnesses to tell the truth.
Can result in evidence becoming available.
Deters anyone considering committing crime.
✔✔What is the single justice procedure? - ✔✔A procedure by which a single magistrate
deals with a summary offence in private if the defendant has admitted the offence or
does not object to a private trial.
✔✔Give three examples of offences usually dealt with by the single justice procedure. -
✔✔Rail fare evasion.
TV license evasion.
Traffic offences.
✔✔Why is the single justice procedure controversial? - ✔✔It goes against the principle
of open justice.
✔✔Why was the single justice procedure invented? - ✔✔To save money/cut costs.
✔✔What is the purpose of a coroner's inquest? - ✔✔To find out who the deceased was
and how/when/where they met their death.
✔✔In what circumstances must coroners sit with a jury? - ✔✔If the death was at work.
, If the death was caused by poisoning.
If the police were involved in any way.
✔✔Which section of which act gives lifelong anonymity to vulnerable or intimidated
adult witnesses? - ✔✔Section 46 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act.
✔✔Who does Section 46 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act give lifelong
anonymity to? - ✔✔Vulnerable or intimidated adult witnesses.
✔✔In what circumstance is Section 46 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act
used? - ✔✔If being named would limit their evidence or co-operation in the case due to
their level of fear or
distress.
✔✔Who does Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons Act 1933 provide
anonymity to? - ✔✔Any juvenile "concerned in proceedings" in a Youth Court.
✔✔Which section of which act provides automatic anonymity to any juvenile "concerned
in proceedings" in a Youth Court? - ✔✔Section 49 of the Children and Young Persons
Act 1933.
✔✔What is the scope of anonymity? - ✔✔Name.
Address.
School/Workplace.
Any still or moving image.
Anything that could lead to their ID.
✔✔n what three circumstances can Section 49 anonymity be lifted? - ✔✔In the public
interest - if crimes are persistent or notorious or affect large numbers of the community.
To avoid injustice.
If the young person is "unlawfully at large".
✔✔At what point does Section 49 anonymity end? - ✔✔Once the juvenile turns 18.
✔✔Which section of which act provides anonymity to juveniles appearing in adult
courts? - ✔✔Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999.
✔✔Who does Section 45 of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 provide
anonymity to? - ✔✔Juveniles appearing in adult courts.
✔✔At what point does Section 45 anonymity end? - ✔✔Once the juvenile turns 18.
