An update to the Civil Procedure Rules, which came into effect yesterday, means statements in open court can now be made in malicious falsehood or privacy cases where a claimant wishes to accept an offer of settlement.

In a post on its website law firm Schillings described the update as a “subtle” yet “important” change.

A statement in open court can therefore be used as an important mechanism for vindication for victims who have had their privacy invaded. This is especially important in “false privacy claims” where there is often lots of speculation about a person’s private life that is untrue. In these cases in particular it is vital to be able to set the record straight and let the world know that the allegations were untrue and infringed privacy.