HMCTS to pilot first ‘fully video courtroom’

Written by Sam Trendall on 19 February 2018 in News
News

All participants in tax-appeal hearings to take part remotely during trial scheme

HM Courts and Tribunals Service is to trial the use of the UK’s first “fully video courtroom” for use by the public.
 
The pilot scheme, which will be used for tax-appeal hearings, will take place this spring, HMCTS said. It will see everyone involved in the hearings – including judges, legal teams on both sides, and appellants – taking part via video.
 
The courts service said that allowing the technical aspects of cases, which typically involve only lawyers and judges, to be addressed by video could speed up the entire process for everyone.

Related content

Those taking part in the pilot will be able to use an internet-connected device and a webcam to log in from a location of their choosing. During the pilot phase, judges will remain in a courtroom.

HMCTS has written to possible participants to ask if they would be interested in taking part in the pilot. The final decision of whether to use a video hearing for a case will always lie with the judge.
 
Justice minister Lucy Frazer, said: “We are spending £1bn on transforming and modernising the justice system. Video hearings have the potential to improve access to justice and speed up cases. This pilot will provide important information – together with an increasing body of evidence from other countries – to drive innovation to make the wider system quicker, smarter, and much more user-friendly.”
 
Other initiatives undertaken as part of the courts service’s £1bn digitisation programme include the launch of online divorce applications, and a digital system for sentencing fare dodgers in London.
About the author

Sam Trendall is editor of PublicTechnology

Tags
Transformation
Categories
Public order, justice and rights

Share this page

Tags

Categories

CONTRIBUTIONS FROM READERS

Please login to post a comment or register for a free account.

Related Articles

Related Sponsored Articles

 Don’t Gamble with your password resets!
20 June 2018

The cautionary tale of the Leicestershire teenager who hacked high-ranking officials of NATO allies shows the need for improved password security

 Intelligent Connectivity: The Future of Networking - Delivering efficiency
16 July 2018

At BT, we realise that digital technology is changing the way we all do business. Make smart decisions with intelligent connectivity.

 Intelligent Connectivity: The Future of Networking - Delivering innovation
9 July 2018

At BT, we realise that digital technology is changing the way we all do business. Make smart decisions with intelligent connectivity. With our network and know-how you can plan a smarter, more...

 Intelligent Connectivity: The Future of Networking
3 July 2018

At BT, we realise that digital technology is changing the way we all do business. Make smart decisions with intelligent connectivity. With our network and know-how you can plan a smarter, more...