MoJ will evaluate remote hearings

The MoJ is also planning a fully video remand pilot, building on knowledge gained during the pandemic, but this would be ‘subject to engagement and agreement with the judiciary’. It said ‘substantial investment’ was being made into criminal court infrastructure to support video hearings, with 50% of all courtrooms given video hearing facilities, and a second tranche of roll-put planned to increase this to 75%.

However, ministers have no intention of revisiting provision where court buildings have been closed.

In its report on the impact of coronavirus on courts and tribunals, in July (bit.ly/363twyj) the Committee said the government had been wrong to close so much of the court estate in the ten years prior to the pandemic, and warned the crisis should not be used to bring in permanent changes without proper consultation.

Responding this week to the Justice Committee report, the MoJ said: ‘As HM Courts and Tribunal Service recover from the impact of the coronavirus pandemic their focus will be on improving the existing estate through the additional funding received earlier this year and by making a robust case for additional funding as part of the spending review process.

‘Beyond the recent consultation on Medway County and Family Court, they have no further active proposals for changes to the court and tribunal estate.’

In response to other questions from the Committee, the MoJ said it was investigating the costs of setting up a freephone service for members of the public.

Law Society president David Greene said: ‘Case backlogs are significant across both the civil and criminal justice systems.

‘To help clear the backlogs, we encourage the government to open additional Nightingale courts. Investing in legal aid for early advice and legal representation would help to nip problems in the bud, thus avoiding some cases going to court at all.’

While remote hearings have been successful, people needed to be physically present in some cases, particularly those involving vulnerable parties.