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' Informal, off-the-record negotiations about plea and charges with the CPS prior to a hearing are also important.' In cases for example, of section 20 /section 18 OAP, this is massively crucial to a fair and proportionate outcome; yet regrettably with courts imposing limited time slots measured in a meagre few minutes for defence video consultation prior to the P&D hearing and a culture making progressing the case at the first opportunity imperative there is a very high risk of injustice. Added to this is the frequency of agents ( usually very junior members of chambers) instructed on behalf of the CPS even if there was time for informal discussion the defence solicitor's opposite number has absolutely no cloud to sort anything out. The chances are they only picked up the file when they arrived at court. In such circumstances judicial sentiments along the lines of 'well the defendant knows whether he did it' compound an already disgraceful situation. No, all singing ,all dancing, super efficient, court video hearings are often not a suitable solution.