Go to court at the touch of a buttonBoth the civil and criminal justice systems are to receive major funding boosts from the government with the aim of modernising and updating their IT systems.

Proposals include putting the civil claims procedure on-line, meaning that claims can be lodged via home computers and digital televisions.

Lord Chancellor's Department minister David Lock this week launched a consultation paper which outlined how technology and new ways of working aim to bring the civil courts system into the 21st century.

Among the proposals - boosted by 43 million investment from the Treasury - is a plan to introduce touch-screen kiosks in libraries to provide advice about court processes and a video link to the local Citizens Advice Bureau.

Another major innovation to be piloted in Preston Combined Court is the ability to issue court applications by e-mail (see [2001] Gazette, 11 January, 22).

Mr Lock said: 'The civil courts were set up in the 19th century and much of our system remains from that era...

We want to use modern technology to benefit our customers so they can have access to the system 24 hours a day on-line, and they can pay their court fees electronically, by credit card.' Law Society President Michael Napier welcomed the moves but warned that the opportunity for the public to lodge applications via the Internet or digital television was dependent on a strong IT infrastructure.

'Not everyone who needs access to justice - particularly the vulnerable in society - yet owns or has access to a computer or digital TV,' he said.

Last week, Mr Lock announced a 94 million IT investment for the Crown Court; 64 million of new money added to 32 million secured last year.

A four-year pilot is due to start in March at Kingston Crown Court, with others to follow during the year.

Court Service chief executive Ian Magee said: 'There is enormous scope for greater use of evidence in an electronic form - photographs, maps, witness statements and bank statements can all be displayed at the flick of a button.

This will make proceedings easier and clearer for jurors and witnesses to follow.

Other plans include enabling court officials to enter onto a system the outcome of cases instantly, and check court listings to allow the judge and parties to set dates for trials or further hearings.

However, Malcolm Fowler, chairman of the Law Society's criminal law committee, warned: 'Grafting on additional technology to a system which is crying out for more skilled personnel only gives the illusion of putting matters right.'He welcomed the funding, but said the 'challenge is to put enough funding into training and recruitment - there's no point getting over-excited over technology when no one is trained enough to understand the system in depth.' Victoria MacCallum