While new digital tools enable users to supply files of up to 1GB, ongoing restrictions are placed on submissions made via email, but are being reviewed, Sarah Sackman has said
Those using email to submit documents related to court proceedings currently face “particularly restrictive” limitations, a minister has acknowledged.
As part of the HM Courts and Tribunals Service £1.3bn Reform Programme – that completed its eight-year delivery agenda last year – the agency created and implemented digital tools enabling people to submit documents for ongoing cases and other legal proceedings.
“New digital systems developed by HM Courts & Tribunals Service during the Reform Programme, are already of sufficient size to cater for most documents that need to be uploaded during proceedings,” said courts minister Sarah Sackman. “Limits are currently 1GB for documents and 500MB for multimedia. These are in place to protect systems from malicious attack. A 1GB limit allows for a standard text document of around 26,000 pages, and around 7,000 pages if images are included. These standards will be the baseline for future digital development.”
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However, Sackman – who was answering a written parliamentary question from Conservative MP Andrew Griffith, who asked whether the “HMCTS [will] ensure that courts can accept attachments of more than 20 megabytes in size from plaintiffs and defendants” – admitted that those using email to supply documents still face limitations. The current, much more stringent restrictions on these submissions are currently being assessed, according to the minister.
“A review is being completed on the current limit relating to email submissions which is set at a lower level, and we recognise is particularly restrictive for users,” she said.
