LNB News: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 17 May

From 21 May 2021, the format of the operational summary will change. The webpage will no longer be updated—instead links to the updates will be posted on Twitter.

Next week’s announcement will be issued on the HMCTS Twitter account on Friday 24 May 2021.

All courts and tribunals

New announcements

• there are no new announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 17 May 2021 retains from previous summaries that:

• HMCTS is encouraging everyone that attends court to make use of the coronavirus testing available to them, including home-testing kits which can be ordered online via the government scheme. Home-testing kits are now available from all English and Welsh courts and tribunal sites. HMCTS has published the HMCTS testing update
• HMCTS is undertaking an evaluation of remote hearings, and is seeking views from legal professionals on the use of remote hearings in the longer term post-coronavirus. The survey will close on 1 June 2021
• professional users providing legal consultation in custody suites will be supplied with Fluid Resistant Surgical Masks upon entry
• a copy of the HMCTS weekly review and updates to coronavirus risk assessments can be requested from a local court
• guidance on wearing face coverings in court has been published for England, Wales and Scotland
• the RCJ operational update remains the same
• the Queen’s Bench Division Information for Court Users remains the same
• detail has been added to the Administrative Court Office guidance
• the Senior Costs Judge has published a Senior Courts Costs Office update
• the High Court continues to work according to the High Court Contingency Plan
• the Queen’s Bench Masters Listing and Action Department Information for Court Users and Queens Bench Division Information for Court Users have been updated
• the Judicial Office has published a message from the Lord Chief Justice on recovery within the courts
• the Judicial Office has published important advice and guidance, including user help guides

Criminal courts

New announcements

• there are no new announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 17 May 2021 retains from previous summaries that:

• the Crown Court DCS has been updated to allow restriction of access to cases of special sensitivity, such as terrorism cases. From 10 May 2021, these cases will be accessed by ‘Invitation Only’—those attempting to get access will be provided with contact details for doing so. For further information, email CTDD-CrimeSupport@Justice.gov.uk
• the Common Platform digital case management system is set to go live by the end of May 2021 in selected courts in the Midlands, Wales, the North-West, the North-East and South-West. Defence solicitors and barristers operating in these courts are being contacted by HMCTS to register ‘Common Platform’ accounts
• the Crown Court is dealing with a range of work remotely when possible and are hearing all types of applications and cases, including multi-hander trials

Civil courts

New announcements

• following a Ministry of Justice consultation in December 2020, and the Civil Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2021 being passed through Parliament on 27 and 28 April 2021, changes to civil fees will come into force on 18 May 2021

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 17 May 2021 retains from previous summaries that:

• the civil court listing priorities for County Courts remain in force

Family courts

New announcements

• there are no new announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 17 May 2021 retains from previous summaries that:

• the family court business priorities remain the same

Tribunals

New announcements

• there are no new announcements in the summary

Maintained announcements

The summary for the w/c 17 May 2021 retains from previous summaries that:

• the Courts and Tribunals Judiciary has published various updates, user help guides and frequently asked questions documents

Previous weekly summaries

• Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 10 May, LNB News 10/05/2021 16
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 3 May, LNB News 04/05/2021 11
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 26 April, LNB News 26/04/2021 18
• Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 19 April, LNB News 19/04/2021 4

Source: HMCTS weekly operational summary on courts and tribunals during coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak

This content was first published by LNB News / Lexis®Library, a LexisNexis® company, on 17 May 2021 and is published with permission. Further information can be found at: www.lexisnexis.co.uk.