Reporting Restrictions & Contempt

5RB barristers are regularly instructed both to seek and to challenge reporting restrictions, anonymity orders and other measures that engage the principle of open justice.

A breach of these measures could amount to a contempt of court or interfere with the fairness of a trial, with the potential for criminal penalties. It is therefore important to obtain assistance at an early stage if you are publishing sensitive or detailed material about live cases. Our members are available to advise on contempt-related issues at both pre- and post-publication stage.

Our members can provide legal advice and advocacy in cases proceeding in the civil, criminal and family courts (including in the context of the recent ‘open reporting provisions’ in force in the family courts from 27 January 2025), Employment Tribunal and other tribunals, public inquiries and the Court of Protection. We regularly act in claims involving applications for journalists’ and production companies’ source materials.

Recent cases in which our members have acted include:

• Bradley v CM & Ors [2026] EWHC 125 (Fam): An application for access to documents and permission to report them in four private family law cases.
• A Local Authority v A Mother & Ors [2025] EWHC 3498 (Fam): An application for a transparency order in care proceedings about fabricated or induced illness.
• PMC v Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board [2025] EWCA Civ 1126: Appeal regarding the court’s power to derogate from the open justice principle in civil and family court proceedings.
• BBC & Ors v Tickle & Anor [2025] EWCA Civ 42: An appeal against a decision to grant anonymity to judges in historic proceedings relating to Sara Sharif, a 10-year-old girl who was subsequently abused and murdered by her father and stepmother.
• HM Solicitor General v Yaxley-Lennon [2024] EWHC 2732 (KB): Two committal applications following ten breaches of an injunction by the defendant, Tommy Robinson, which resulted in an 18-month imprisonment.
• Hinduja v Hinduja [2022] EWCA Civ 1492: An appeal against the lifting of a reporting restrictions order made in the Court of Protection in a claim involving one of Britain’s wealthiest families.
• Attorney General v Crosland [2021] UKSC 58: An application for contempt of court against a litigant who disclosed the contents of an embargoed judgment.