While the MoJ is investigating the potential use of automated systems in the criminal justice system, ministers indicate that such tech will need to match the proficiency of manual transcribers

Government is “actively exploring” the potential use of artificial intelligence in creating formal transcripts of criminal court proceedings – but will require the technology to provide similar levels of accuracy to those offer by human professionals.

The Ministry of Justice is currently examining the potential implementation of automated, tech-powered transcription for Crown Court cases, which could help save money, according to Sarah Sackman, the MoJ’s minister with responsibility for court reform – including AI and digitisation.

But, in answer to a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP David Davis, the minister stressed the importance of machines replicating the performance standards of the human experts that currently provide the justice system with transcription services.

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“It is imperative that court transcripts are of a very high standard, and redacted as may be required, to provide an accurate record of official proceedings and in order to safeguard the interests of the parties, witnesses and victims,” Sackman said. “The production of Crown Court transcripts is currently a manual process delivered by third-party suppliers. Under the contract, suppliers are required to produce transcripts to 99.5% accuracy. We are targeting a similar level of accuracy in AI transcripts. We are actively exploring opportunities to use technology to reduce the cost of transcripts in future, but a high degree of accuracy will be of paramount importance.”

In summer 2023, the MoJ put in place a four-year framework for court reporting and transcriptions services worth more than £20m to the eight chosen suppliers: Appen; DA Languages; Epiq; eScribers; Marten Walsh Cherer; Opus 2; The Transcription Agency; and Ubiqus.

This agreement was split into three sections, covering remote transcription from recordings of proceedings, on-site transcription by stenographers which is then finessed into a final transcript, and real-time transcription for instant delivery.