The first day of strike action by magistrates’ court staff over HM Courts & Tribunals Service’s controversial Common Platform system has already caused chaos, the Gazette has been told.

Legal advisers and court associates at more than 60 magistrates’ courts are striking until 30 October over the rollout of the digital system, which has been beset by problems since it was introduced in September 2020.

The Common Platform, which is currently live in 101 courts, is intended to enable parties in a criminal case to access relevant information on one system. Rollout was paused last year due to ‘some difficult problems and setbacks’, the lord chief justice revealed last October.

The Public and Commercial Services Union, which first balloted members on action last December, says the system has sent work-related stress and anxiety levels among HMCTS staff ‘through the roof’.

A lawyer told the Gazette that Manchester sat only four courts yesterday, 70 people were in custody, 20 cases were postponed until today and the court set an 11am arrival cut-off point for prisoners. Only three courts are reportedly sitting today.

The Public and Commercial Services Union said picket lines at Manchester, Luton and Peterborough yesterday were well attended.

‘Courts were adjourned when it transpired that only one legal advisor was on duty to cover six courts in three locations around the Luton region. Union colleagues from NEU and CWU joined the pickets at Luton Magistrates' Court and solicitors there also bought doughnuts and cakes for the pickets,’ the PCS said on its website.

The PCS added that the Manchester picket line was attended by an eight-year-old who asked her mother: ‘Why is the computer system so rubbish?’

A spokesperson for HMCTS said: 'Common Platform is fundamental to modernising the court system - replacing out-of-date systems and freeing up court staff for other vital work. 142 employees voted to strike, but we will continue to work closely with all staff to support them through this transition and want to thank all the court staff, judges and others who have contributed to its design and implementation so far.'

The agency said there had inevitably been some instances of local disruption, but courts have continued to run thanks to extensive contingency plans prepared by staff. The most urgent cases have been heard and no court buildings have been closed as a result of the strike.

 

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