Firm linked to prison

VIDEO CONFERENCING: Bark & Co first to offer service

Niche London firm Bark & Co has invested 20,000 in a video-conferencing suite that can hold meetings with clients in prison, and is offering the service to other practices.

The sole principal criminal defence practice initially bought the system to enable its white-collar crime team to hold conferences with clients around the world, but it has now become the first law firm to hold such meetings with defendants in London's Wandsworth Prison - which is running a pilot scheme on video links.

Jonathan Wright, an assistant solicitor and Bark & Co's IT development manager, said: 'The initial investment was made to save the costs and time involved in travelling to meet clients in prisons and other parts of the world.

It is an expensive piece of kit, but we have found the facilities very beneficial and now offer them to other law firms.'

Mr Wright said the firm had already conducted video meetings with clients in Dubai and India, and that 'now it is being introduced into the criminal justice system, like in Wandsworth, its usage will increase'.

A Wandsworth Prison spokesman said: 'We had the system installed last October and have been using it with magistrates' courts since then, but Bark & Co is the first law firm to do a video conference with us.

It is beneficial for both parties and I would encourage firms to invest in the technology as it's fully implemented in Manchester and Birmingham Crown Courts after trial runs and is being installed in the Old Bailey early next year.'

Dozens of magistrates' courts around the country have video conferencing facilities.

Andrew Towler