As part of the The Coroner's Inquests into the Deaths of Diana, Princess of Wales and Mr Dodi Al Fayed, the Court will visit Paris, France on Monday & Tuesday 08/09 October 2007.
Media choosing to attend Paris to cover the Coroner’s Court visit should be aware that security and operational arrangements for the visit are made with the kind support of the French authorities in Paris and that media will not be permitted to interfere with or disturb the business of the Court.
Whilst visiting Paris, the Court shall be “in session” and ALL media are requested to respect the dignity of the Court in exactly the same way as they would at the Royal Courts in London. Most particularly, we urge you to take every precaution to preserve the integrity of the Jury.
Publication or broadcast of any images showing the identity of any jurors is to be avoided and in the UK it would remain subject to the Contempt of Court Act 1981.
Within the security operation a small number of media representatives will be given access to the proceedings on a pool basis. For this visit, it has been agreed to form both a writers pool and a camera pool.
The Court visit will take place in three distinct phases:
1. Afternoon Mon 8 Oct – Daytime route visit
2. Evening Mon 8 Oct – Night-time route visit
3. Morning Tue 9 Oct – Further visits, incl. Ritz Hotel
A briefing for media will take place on Wed 03 October at 1.30pm in the Court Annex, RCJ. Participation in the media pools is subject to agreement to share all material with all other media on request and to make all reasonable efforts to preserve the integrity of the jury prior to distribution of material.
Nominated media pool members will rendevous (RV) in the Place Vendome, Paris at 12.00pm on Mon 08 October. This will be the pool RV point for all phases of the visit.
Pool members will be provided transport with the Court Group from the RV point only. All other arrangements for travel, accommodation and meals, are their own.
Pool members will not be able to enter and exit the cordon as they please. Movement will be controlled at all times. Opportunities to share and feed material will be provided as often as possible.
Media Pool 1 – Writers
This media pool will consist of 6 (six) reporters who will form part of the Court group and will see and hear everything that the Jury sees and hears. The size of this pool is non negotiable, and is set at this number for both management and logistical reasons. This pool will consist:
Those attending this pool must agree to pool all material for use by all others. Correspondents may differ for each phase of the visit, but must remain for the duration of each phase. If nominated correspondents elect to leave the cordon during the phase, they cannot return or be replaced.
Grouped media organisations are requested to agree amongst themselves the names of those taking part and inform the Court press office no later than COP Wed 03 October 2007. (richard.bailey@scottbaker-inquests.gsi.gov.uk).
This pool will not be permitted to carry cameras (including 3G mobile telephones with integral cameras) or any sound recording device during the visit. Mobile phones may be carried but must be switched off when the Court is “in session”. Laptops may not be carried.
Media Pool 2 – Cameras
This media pool will consist of 10 (ten) camera persons (including VT and stills) who will be afforded the best possible positions from which to record the Court as it conducts its visit.
Members of the jury may only be filmed in such a way that does NOT reveal their identity, but rear shots of the backs of their heads are permissable. Cameras will always be behind the Court group and at a suitable distance and pool members must agree to remove all images identifying the Jury prior to distribution and broadcast.
All those attending this pool must agree to pool all material for use by all others. No live broadcasting or “pieces to camera” will be permitted from this pool. Nominated pool members must remain constant throughout the entire visit.
This pool will be made up of individual camera people only. No producers or correspondents will be permitted. Attendees are recommended to bring tripods, which can be transported in the bus.
This pool will not travel in the same vehicle as the Jury and will not be permitted access inside the Ritz Hotel during the visit.
This pool will consist:
Film:
a. BBC
b. ITN
c. Sky News
d. APTN
e. US broadcasters representative
f. French broadcasters representative
Photography:
g. PA
h. AFP
i. UK Broadsheets representative
j. UK Tabloids representative
Media organisations are requested to agree amongst themselves, and within their groups, the names of those taking part and inform the Court press office no later than COP Wed 03 October 2007. (richard.bailey@scottbaker-inquests.gsi.gov.uk). If no names are forthcoming, the Court will invite participation itself.
Phase One – Mon, 8 October 2007
| 1200hrs | Meet at Place Vendome |
| 1400hrs | Court assembles and session begins |
| 1400 – 1830hrs | Court visits Place Vendome, Place de la Concorde, Place de L’Alma |
| c. 1830hrs | Court rises and disperses from Place De L’Alma for Supper break |
Phase Two – Mon, 8 October 2007
| 2130hrs | Meet at Place Vendome |
| 2200hrs | Court assembles and session begins |
| 2200 – 2330hrs | Court travels route from Ritz to Place de L’Alma and then the route to Pitie Salpetiere Hospital |
| c. 2345hrs | Court rises and disperses from the Hospital |
Phase Three – Tue, 9 October 2007
| 1030hrs | Meet at Place Vendome |
| 1100hrs | Court assembles and session begins |
| 1100 – 1330hrs | Court visits Ritz Hotel and other routes |
| 1330hrs | Court rises and disperses from Place Vendome |
(See below for guidance on what may be reported of this itinerary in advance.)
Notes on Reporting
The Court shall be deemed “in session”:
i) From the moment the Court group comes together in Place Vendome at the start of each phase and until the Coroner instructs the Court group to disperse at the end of each phase.
ii) Throughout all bus journeys undertaken by the Court group as a whole.
Media activity within the police cordon will be confined to a small pool and will be strictly controlled by Court staff press officers. The media pool will follow the Court group, at an appropriate distance, throughout each session and will be able to see and hear everything which the Jury sees and hears.
Hereon, reporting in advance of the visit is restricted to the fact that:
- A visit is being made by the Court to Paris and that the Court will visit those places pertinent to the Inquest as set out by the Coroner and agreed by all Interested Parties.
During and after the visit:
- Only the named members of the media pool as organised by the Court press officer are permitted within the police cordon alongside the Court “in session” during the visit. All other media are requested to remain at a discreet distance and to avoid any interference or disturbance of the Court.
- Members of the Jury may not be identifiable by any film or photographs taken or published/broadcast.
- Only factual reporting of what the Jury did and saw and the words spoken by the Coroner and Counsel is permitted.
- To preserve the security of the Jury, we will not be disclosing the venue of their overnight accommodation. If discovered, the Coroner has requested that the media do not disclose it either. Media are also requested not to attempt to follow the bus after the Court has dispersed at the end of each session.
For any queries, please contact Richard on 020 7073 1709 or 07714 756215.
Further details on the Inquests can be found on the website – www.scottbaker-inquests.gov.uk
Ends
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