Since Friday 24 April 2020 we are issuing weekly updates on our operational position and on Monday mornings we’ll also publish a link to the weekly update on Twitter.

We are currently issuing weekly updates on our operational position. Follow us on @HMCTSgovuk to also check for daily or urgent updates.

Next week’s update will be issued on Friday 7 August 2020.

• Updated: On 30 July 2020 we published a Vulnerability Action Plan to outline the way courts and tribunals have changed the way they work to run safely during COVID-19 and enable vulnerable people to access the justice system.
• Updated: The London School of Economics (LSE) has published an independent report assessing the user experience of the video hearings process. The evaluation examines party-to-party hearings and party-to-state hearings in civil, family and tax jurisdictions.
• We’re encouraging all court and tribunals users to wear a face covering in our buildings in England unless they have valid reason not to. This minimises the coronavirus risks throughout our buildings. Those using our buildings in Wales and Scotland may also wear a face covering.
• Updated: There are currently no changes to court and tribunal services in the North West despite the regional restrictions that are currently in effect.
• The Kinly Cloud Video Platform (CVP) is being rolled out to Crown and magistrates’ courts across England and Wales to support video enabled hearings. We are extending the availability of our new video platform to civil and family courts, to enable more remote cases to be heard safely and securely. For more info on joining telephone and video hearings please see our guide. We’ve also published information for legal practitioners who are involved in video enabled criminal hearings. If you require technical support for a telephone or video hearing can call 0330 8089405.
• Our Courts and Tribunals Service Centres will be available from 8am to 5pm Monday to Thursday and 8am to 4pm on Fridays until further notice.
• Welsh Language services available during the coronavirus outbreak.

 

Crime

• Updated: From Monday 3 August 2020, Jury Trials will have resumed in 62 Crown Courts.
• Updated: As part of work to ensure more jury trials can run safely, we’ll be installing framed plexiglass screens in more court rooms over the coming weeks. We’ve tested this in Leeds, and Public Health England has checked and support this approach. Installation of plastic screens is already underway and site surveys continue. So far over 100 court rooms in around 50 buildings have been identified that could benefit.
• Crown Courts are dealing with a range of work, much of which is being done remotely. This includes sentencing hearings and all urgent applications including applications for bail and applications to extend custody time limits. Pre-trial preparation hearings and further case management hearings are also taking place.
• Magistrates’ courts and the Youth Courts are now dealing with all criminal business types. Urgent cases such as those where the defendant is being held in police or prison custody will continue to take priority. continue to cover urgent work, such as cases where the defendant is being held in police or prison custody.
• The number of summary trials listed is increasing, whilst still ensuring prioritisation is given to cases involving an allegation of domestic abuse and Domestic Violence Protection Orders.
• Cases where defendants are on bail and require listing in either a GAP or NGAP court are also being heard.
• The Judiciary has published a note of listing in magistrates’ courts during coronavirus outbreak.
• Various other work including police traffic prosecutions, continue to be dealt with remotely using the Single Justice Procedure.
• All questions about paying an outstanding criminal court fine should be sent to our National Compliance and Enforcement Service at NCESWE@justice.gov.uk or call 0300 123 9252.

 

Family

• Family courts business priorities.
• Family court C100 (child arrangements) guidance.
• Guidance on replacement of affidavits with statements of truth in non-contentious probate processes.
• Coronavirus contingency arrangements for Family Law Act injunctions.

 

Civil

• Civil court listing priorities.

 

Tribunals

• Payment of fees to the Lands Chamber, Payment of application and hearing fees to the Property Chamber.
• First tier tax tribunal operational update
• Property and General Regulatory Chamber operational updates
• The Judiciary have published a frequently asked questions document on Employment Tribunals during the coronavirus for parties who are representing themselves and professional representatives.
• The Judiciary have published a frequently asked questions document for the First-Tier Tribunal (Tax Chamber) during the coronavirus to assist users to better understand the services the Tribunal is currently providing.
• Mental Health Tribunal telephone hearing guidance.
• First Tier Immigration and Asylum Tribunal operational update.
• Upper Tier Immigration and Asylum Tribunal operational update.
• The Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber has made changes to the way it currently works. Since Thursday 30 April 2020, all Judicial Review applications can be lodged using email.

 

Royal Courts of Justice

• The Royal Courts of Justice Operational Update
• The High Court is covering work according to the High Court Contingency Plan.
• More detailed guidance for the Administrative Court Office.
• Updated: More detailed guidance for the Queen’s Bench.
• The Court of Appeal Civil Division is covering work according to the RCJ Court of Appeal Civil urgent business priorities.
• Updated: The Court of Appeal Criminal Division is covering work according to the RCJ Court of Appeal Criminal Emergency Plan.
• The Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office is currently open to the public during the hours of 10:00am and 14:00pm every Monday, Wednesday and Friday
• The Senior Costs Judge has published a note on hearings and detailed assessments in the Senior Courts Costs Office

 

Judicial announcements

• The Judicial Office has published important advice and guidance, including user help guides.

 

Please visit our GOV.UK page for all operational updates