Media gag on prisoners banned
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The Court of Appeal yesterday backed the attempt by the Home Secretary, Jack Straw, to gag convicted prisoners from talking to the media. A test case means that while prisoners will still be able to write to journalists, they will be barred from face-to-face meetings except at the discretion of the authorities.
The decision is a major blow for those working on miscarriage of justice cases and undermines claims by ministers that they support more open government. Journalist Robert Woffinden, author of Miscarriages of Justice, who interviewed one of the prisoners involved in the test case, said: "I believe it is a very unfair restriction on prisoners and an absurd restriction on journalists."
A spokesman for the Prison Service said they were "very pleased" with the ruling, which returned the legal situation to its previous position.
In yesterday's case three appeal judges overturned the decision that the restrictions on convicted prisoners interfered with their freedom of expression under the European Convention on Human Rights. Lord Justice Kennedy said: "The loss of that `right'
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments