However, 80% agreed the risk to
them and their family could be reduced to an acceptable level if all the safety
measures mentioned in the survey were implemented.
These measures, which were all
supported by the vast majority of respondents, included deep cleaning of courts
between trials, as well as the supply of disinfectant, hand sanitiser, paper
towels and adequate washing facilities, and the supply of plastic or glass
screens so they could safely confer with defendants and witnesses. More than
90% thought it either essential or desirable that HM Courts and Tribunals
supply PPE (personal protective equipment) in line with any government guidance
to counsel, defendants, witnesses and court staff.
The results of the survey, completed
by 1,878 barristers, were published last week.
CBA chair Caroline Goodwin QC
said: ‘My recollection of the court estate was of dirty courts, broken seats,
waste bins left overflowing, unkempt poorly cleaned and frankly unloved
neglected buildings.’ However, a clean-up operation has taken place. Goodwin
said she has visited courts including Newcastle, Leeds, Old Bailey, Cardiff,
Bristol, Warwick and Minshull street, and ‘from the custody suite arrangements
for conference, to the marking out with gaffer tape, the buildings look and
feel very different’.
Meanwhile, jury trials were
listed to start in Reading, Warwick and Winchester Crown Courts this week. Jury
trials have also been taking place at Manchester Minshull Street, Bristol,
Cardiff and The Old Bailey.
Mr Justice Edis, chair of the
Jury Trials Working Group, which is looking for safe ways for jury trials to
proceed, said: ‘The feedback received from participants, including court staff,
jurors, witnesses and legal professionals, has been positive.’
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