Issue 8 | January 2019
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Work to improve the condition of court buildings is underway thanks to an additional £15 million set aside for security and maintenance work. The extra money, announced in this year’s Budget, will ensure more than 170 wide-ranging improvement works can be undertaken across a number of sites before the end of the financial year.
Find out more about the priorities in courts across England and Wales>>
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More than 150,000 people used online justice services in the past 12 months taking the total number to over 300,000 in the past four years. Public feedback has been positive, with 85% of people reporting they are happy with the new divorce service, 93% for probate and 89% for civil money claims.
Read the full press release here>>
We’ve added new events to our programme, including an event in January, in Bristol, covering reform in crime and how it will support digital working across the criminal justice system. We are also hosting an event in February, in Exeter, covering the reform of tribunals. It will look in detail at two projects: immigration and asylum appeals, and social security and child support appeals – particularly for Personal Independence Payment and Employment Support Allowance, as well as changes that will be made to employment and other tribunals as part of the reform programme.
Check out the full events programme>>
An overview of the inaugural forum, The Cutting Edge of Digital Reform, jointly hosted by HMCTS and the Society for Computers and Law, including presentations, speeches, and forum reflections from speakers and delegates.
Access all the forum presentations and feedback>>
Read the Secretary of State for Justice’s speech>>
Find out what The Lord Chief Justice said in his address>>
Watch a video of the Senior President of Tribunals summarising the event>>
Refurbishment works have been carried out at Swindon Magistrates' Court and Swindon Combined Court, as part of HMCTS’ commitment to improving the condition of court buildings and access to justice for all users.
Read more about it in the press release>>
Justice Secretary David Gauke spoke of his pride in a department 'delivering real change', after three important justice bills all became law in December. This includes the Courts and Tribunals (Judiciary and Functions of Staff) Bill, which will allow appropriately qualified and experienced court and tribunal staff to deal with routine matters that need it most.
Read the full press release issued on 20 December>>
More details about the Courts and Tribunals Bill is available online>>
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett of Maldon, held his annual press conference on Friday 14 December 2018 at the Royal Courts of Justice.
Read the transcript of the press conference>>
Legal commentator Joshua Rozenberg has published a summary of jurisdictional documents written by the senior judiciary to update judicial office holders about Judicial Ways of Working, which asked judicial office holders for their views on court reform.
Read Joshua Rozenberg's summary here>>
Helen Andrews, Operations Manager at our Civil and Family Justice Centre in Bristol, was awarded an MBE for services to Justice and the community. A number of others who work alongside HMCTS and the Ministry of Justice have also been honoured by the Queen.
See the full New Year's Honours list here>>
For more information about HMCTS, please visit our blog and web pages.
Find out about our data and privacy policies.
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