LNB News: Coronavirus (COVID-19)—HMCTS publishes updated operational summary for week commencing 7 June

Lexis®Library update: The summary for the week commencing (w/c) 7 June 2021 collates information on the opening of a new Nightingale court in Mercure Maidstone, what to do if you have experienced difficulties when emailing the service on 4 June 2021, the continuing roll out of the Common Platform, the rollout of the pilot digital service for Damages Claims, and the upcoming webinars on E-Filing. The weekly operational summary has changed format and is sent to subscribers on Sunday evenings and published on the HMCTS Twitter account on Monday mornings.

All courts and tribunals

• HMCTS opened a new Nightingale court at Mercure Maidstone, which provides two non-custodial crown courtrooms for jury trials
• HMCTS online services were affected by technical issues on 4 June 2021. Those who received an error message when emailing the services are encouraged to resend the email as soon as possible

• HMCTS encourages its staff and court users to take part in surge testing in areas affected by variants of concern. It also encourages everyone to take a test twice a week regardless of their vaccination status. If you test positive, self-isolate and follow the latest NHS advice
• 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
• the Royal Courts of Justice is open to the public, although some counters and court facilities remain closed. There is no counter service in the Court of Appeal (Civil and Criminal), Queen’s Bench Division, Administrative Court or Mayor’s and City Court. The counter service in the Fees Office, High Court Family and Central London County Court remains by appointment only. Café 26 remains closed
• the Administrative Court Office user guidance has been updated

Criminal courts

• the Common Platform continues national rollout and is now live in 46 courts. The system will roll out to seven more sites covering 39 courts across the North East, South East, Wales, North West, South West

• the senior judiciary and HMCTS have developed a five point plan for the recovery of magistrates’ adult and youth courts dealing with criminal matters (see: LNB News 14/05/2021 86)
• HMCTS has published a video: What is Common Platform?

Civil courts

• HMCTS has announced pilot digital service for Damages Claims, which allows legal professionals to submit a personal injury claim or other type of unspecified claim digitally. The pilot will begin with a few firms for three months, with the number of solicitors’ firms taking part to be extended from early autumn. For further information, see News Analysis: 132nd Practice Direction update—damages claims pilot scheme introduced under CPR PD 51ZB

• HMCTS reminds users that changes to civil fees came into force on 18 May 2021, following consultation with stakeholders (see: LNB News 12/03/2021 28)

Tribunals

• HMCTS are hosting two webinars on E-Filing for the Upper Tribunal Lands Chamber to help practitioners and litigants in person to use the new service when it comes into effect. Sign up for webinars on 8 June 2021 and 10 June 2021

Source: HMCTS weekly operational summary

This content was first published by LNB News / Lexis®Library, a LexisNexis® company, on 7 June 2021 and is published with permission. Further information can be found at: www.lexisnexis.co.uk.