Lexis®Library update: Lord Burnett spoke of the impact of the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic on the justice system, including advancements in technology, capacity issues in the courts and welfare and morale issues.
Lord Burnett expressed profound thanks to the judiciary ‘for its collective achievement in continuing to serve the nation and ensuring that the wheels of justice continued to turn’ during the pandemic. He spoke of the advancements in technology, stating that although the pandemic ‘has resulted in taking three steps forward in the use of technology and inevitably, in the light of experience, we will take one step back.’
He commented on the availability of staff supporting the courts, highlighting that ‘a longstanding problem faced by HMCTS has been that it recruits staff, it trains them and then loses them to another department or agency paying significantly more at the same grade.’ On this point he concluded that he has brought ‘continuing pressure to bear on this issue and the Lord Chancellor is doing all he can to find a solution.’
In relation to welfare and morale issues, he spoke of the five-year strategy on judicial diversity and inclusion, the work underway to develop a whistle blowing policy for judges and more.
This content was first published by LNB News / Lexis®Library, a LexisNexis® company, on 14 June 2021 and is published with permission. Further information can be found at: www.lexisnexis.co.uk.
