Hearings in Private (‘In Camera’)
Plain-English digest of CPS prosecution guidance.
AI-generated summary — not verbatim. This is a plain-English digest, not the official CPS text. It may omit detail or fall out of date. Do not rely on it for a charging decision — read the full guidance on cps.gov.uk and check the current legislation.
This guidance outlines the circumstances under which court hearings may be held in private, excluding the public. It emphasizes the principle of open justice while detailing exceptions and procedures for conducting hearings 'in camera'. Specific statutory provisions are referenced to clarify when public exclusion is permissible and the evidentiary requirements in such cases.
Key points
- Criminal proceedings should generally be conducted in public.
- Private hearings ('in camera') may occur under specific circumstances.
- The court has inherent power to exclude the public.
- Witness safety claims must be carefully considered before delaying public access.
- Applications for private hearings must follow specific procedures.
- Court decisions for private hearings are continuously reviewed.
Public-interest factors
- The importance of open justice in the legal system
- Protection of sensitive information
- Witness safety considerations
- National security issues
- Avoiding prejudice to legal proceedings
- Preventing undue embarrassment to parties involved.
This is a factual digest of guidance published by the Crown Prosecution Service. Digested 2026-07-15. BlueLineHub is independent and not affiliated with the CPS.