A ‘transformational’ pilot which will expand the use of remote hearings across the jurisdiction has been anounced by the Ministry of Justice in a bid to ‘unlock capacity and speed up justice for victims’. Court cases will be transferred digitally to judges anywhere in England and Wales to help rease up pressure on courts with growing backlogs, the MoJ said.
The technology, pioneered in London and the North East, will allow hearings to take place without everyone attending court in person, the MoJ said. Participants will always have the right to apply to the judge for a face-to-face hearing.
Courts minister Sarah Sackman KC said: ‘The criminal justice system we inherited was on the brink of collapse. Hearings were cancelled at the last-minute and victims have faced unacceptable delays. We are pulling every lever to change this and deliver justice for victims.
‘This transformational pilot harnesses the power of technology to connect courts across the country, making better use of resources and changing how justice is delivered for victims.
‘This pioneering work marks another step towards building a more efficient, resilient and modern justice system that delivers for victims across the country.’
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Remote and hybrid hearings already take place across England and Wales but the reforms, the MoJ said, ‘mark a major step towards a more modern court system that’s fit for a digital age’. Future expansion of the pilot, which has been rolled out in line with the lady chief justice’s latest guidance, will be subject to evaluation and judicial approval.
New arrangements to expand the use of live video links for police witness evidence have also been agreed with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Crown Prosecution Service.
As well as the technological update, Blitz courts have been rebranded to ‘short trial courts’ in which domestic abuse, drug and knife crime cases will be prioritised. Under the scheme, similar cases are grouped together to be heard over a ‘short, intensive period’. The courts aim to resolve cases more quickly by focusing judicial expertise, prosecutors’ times and court staff knowledge.
Judges are able to prioritise domestic abuse, drug and knife crime cases at a number of courts including the Old Bailey, Snaresbrook and Croydon Crown court as well as court sites across Liverpool, Preston and Nottingham.
Sackman said: ‘Judges, supported by court staff across the country are already proving what can be achieved by targeting resources where they are needed most, accelerating cases, cutting the backlog and delivering the fast justice that victims deserve.’
During the summer, short trial courts were used in two dedicated courtrooms at the Old Bailey which helped clear a case backlog of ‘nearly 500’ assaults on emergency workers, the MoJ said. It added: ‘As a result, almost 50 per cent of this type of outstanding cases have already concluded, getting fast and fair justice for the frontline heroes attacked in the line of duty.’
The announcements coincide with the return of the Courts and Tribunals Bill to parliament this week.
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