London ( CNN ) -- Television cameras are to be allowed into courts in England and Wales for the first time , Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke announced Tuesday . The new law will allow the filming only of judges delivering summaries , not victims , witnesses , defendants or juries , the Ministry of Justice said in a statement . It will also permit filming only from the Court of Appeal , with the possibility of later expanding to Crown Courts , which handle serious criminal cases such as rape and murder . The aim is to `` improve transparency and public understanding of court , '' Clarke said . Lawyer and broadcaster Mark Stephens , of the law firm Finers Stephens Innocent , praised the move , saying England and Wales were among few countries in the world still to have a blanket ban on cameras in court . `` This is a very welcome , if cautious and tentative , step towards opening up the court system , '' Stephens told CNN . `` It helps the 'open justice ' principle -- the very soil in which justice is planted in this country , in which justice must not only be done , it must be seen to be done . '' Seeing the process in action would help people understand why certain sentences are given , he said -- a subject that has been widely debated as many of those accused of involvement in rioting in England 's cities last month have appeared before the courts . The ban on filming in courts in England and Wales dates back to 1925 and will require the passage of new laws to overturn , the Justice Ministry said . No such ban exists in Scotland , although cameras are not widely allowed into courtrooms . The ministry said consultations with the judiciary are planned that would cover newer technologies that could provide for live broadcasts . It did not say when the government planned to introduce legislation or when it would take effect . Legislation announced by the government is generally passed quickly by Parliament . Filming in courtrooms has been tried already in courts of appeal , Stephens said , although the footage was not broadcast . The trial reassured many members of the judiciary that their concerns could be dealt with in cooperation with broadcasters , he added . `` Clearly there will need to be safeguards in some cases involving the young and the vulnerable , but in most cases I see no reason why there should not be a virtual public gallery , '' he said . `` It will have the effect of instilling a greater -- and justifiable -- sense of pride in , and comprehension of , the way in which our justice system works , '' Stevens said , adding that cameras would boost public scrutiny of judges and court proceedings . Justice Secretary Clarke also announced plans to publish much more information about each court 's performance . Data that will be compiled will include `` the sentence given , the court , the age group , gender and ethnicity of those sentenced , and the time from when the offence was committed to when the case was complete , '' he said . The government wants `` to allow everyone to see what is happening and how the system works , '' Clarke said . Court-by-court statistics will start to roll out later this month , he said . CNN 's Laura Smith-Spark and Jo Shelley contributed to this report .
The government plans to overturn a ban in England and Wales dating back to 1925 . It will allow broadcasting of verdicts and judges ' summaries . Witnesses , defendants and juries will not be filmed .