Carr's photo was legal

Police won't act against comic

The photograph Jimmy Carr apparently took from inside a court building was not illegal, police have said.

The comic apparently snapped the sign inside the magistrates’ court in Sudbury, Suffolk, on Wednesday, where he was answering a speeding charge.

The sign, below, reads: ‘It is a criminal offence to take photographs in court buildings. This offence includes the use of mobile phones with camera capability. If phones/cameras are used in this way, the police will be advised immediately and the phone/camera seized.’

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On his Twitter page, Carr wrote: ‘Spotted this & felt it my duty to pass it on.’

A Suffolk police spokeswoman said: ‘Officers have viewed the image and have concluded that no offence has been committed. There will be no action taken.’

Suffolk Courts Service explained that it is illegal to take photographs in the precincts of the court only if the photograph includes parties in a case, but said it was their policy that photography is banned inside court buildings.

Carr has denied the speeding charge, in which he was allegedly caught on camera doing 50mph in a 40mph zone in Boxford, Suffolk, last year.

The case was adjourned until May 27 after his lawyer Nick Freeman, known as Mr Loophole, complained of a paperwork blunder over what evidence was admissible.

Here is footage of him leaving court, taken by a journalist from the East Anglian Daily Times – whose unprofessional video camera amuses Carr:

Published: 15 May 2009

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