How do I find which case is being heard?

[hogen-deifar]

Just as it says above.

I work for a firm of solicitors that is based next door to Reading's Crown Court. Sometimes it's a press rat race. Sometimes the road is closed because the accused are dropped off at court outside our building. Normally these cases are well advertised.

This week we've been swamped with armed police outside the court every day. Then on Friday it was like something out of The Sweeney. I was walking down the street at 4.30 when suddenly the traffic was stopped. A police car was stopping traffic, with his lights flashing. Then, when the coast was clear, in a procession, the two cars sped off with blues and twos going, then the Reliance van, followed by two more police cars. They flew off the road very fast and disappeared off into the horizon.

Normally there's media publicity, but I've not seen anything about this case on the news. I've tried "Googling" it but again nothing. It is rare to see armed police and a high speed police escort after the event, but I didn't realise anything "big" had gone down in the Reading area recently.

Is anyone able to shed some light, please??? I think I need to move to the country where this sort of thing doesn't happen!!

[machiavelli]

CourtServe Legal Information Centre - Court Lists will give you that day's list. Or you could just go next door and watch.

[viking1908]

XHIBIT will give you the action 'as it happens'. It's updated by the court clerk as the case progresses. The only thing it doesn't do is tell you who the witnesses are and any verdict

[hogen-deifar]

It's all very strange. Must be an extremely hush hush case because no one around here knows anything and despite the armed police there's been NO BBC crews or newspaper reporters and normally you can't move for them. Whatever the case is it must be pretty big!!! But why no coverage of it? I didn't think the police or courts had powers over reporting???

If I find out, I'll let you know! Probably be really boring!

Thanks for the links, you two!

[dry suit diver]

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

It's all very strange. Must be an extremely hush hush case because no one around here knows anything and despite the armed police there's been NO BBC crews or newspaper reporters and normally you can't move for them. Whatever the case is it must be pretty big!!! But why no coverage of it? I didn't think the police or courts had powers over reporting???
If I find out, I'll let you know! Probably be really boring!

Thanks for the links, you two!

oh how little thee knows, courts can impose reprting restrictions over anything they see fit.

[machiavelli]

How many solicitors firms don't subscribe to the court listing services then?

You could just walk next door and ask the listings clerk.

Originally Posted by hogen-deifar

If I find out, I'll let you know! Probably be really boring!

You might find youself in the dock with the defendent if you do! I'd have thought that writing here could be considered publication... But you can trust me - I won't tell...