Next week’s update will be issued on Friday 4 January 2021.
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Updated: Following the Health Secretary’s announcement on 30 December 2020 that more areas will be moved into increased COVID restrictions from midnight on 31 December 2020, the justice system will remain open as an essential public service where physical hearings are necessary, including those in Tier 4 areas. Courts and tribunals continue to operate within the local restriction tiers in England, the current alert levels in Wales and local protection levels in Scotland. This is also reinforced in the GOV.UK guidance on Tier 4 areas to sectors where presence in physical locations for work is deemed essential. This includes staying overnight away from your home if you require accommodation for work purposes.
- Public health experts have confirmed that existing COVID-secure arrangements remain sufficient in dealing with the challenges provided by the new mutation of the virus. We continue to act on the standards, advice and guidance available, which is explicit and up-to-date. COVID-19: information about the new virus variant.
- Our buildings are not considered close contact settings and the measures we have put in place, as part of our COVID-19 risk management arrangements, are extensive and satisfy public health guidelines for a COVID-secure environment. The suite of controls we already have in place will continue to be enforced. The way to control this virus is the same, whatever the variant. It will not spread if we avoid close contact with others. Wash your hands, wear a mask, keep your distance from others, and reduce your social contacts.
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Reminder: All court and tribunal users are reminded to familiarise themselves with the criteria of a ‘close contact’ and what is meant by ‘contact’ with someone who has tested positive as stated in public health guidance.
- We’re making the biggest single investment in court estate maintenance for more than 20 years and spending an additional £110m on a range of emergency measures to tackle the impact of COVID-19, including opening Nightingale Courts, adding Portakabin units, installing plexiglass and recruiting more staff.
- Our Courts and Tribunals Service Centres have updated some of their operating hours. Courts and Tribunals Service Centre - advice on contacting HMCTS during coronavirus (PDF, 225KB, 5 pages)
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Reminder: Court and tribunal users must continue to wear a face covering in all public and communal parts of our buildings. This includes robing rooms. This is in line with Government advice on face coverings (England), Face coverings: guidance for public (Wales) and COVID-19 stage 3: staying safe and protecting others (Scotland).
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Reminder: While public health legislation allows those involved in legal proceedings to come out of self-isolation when necessary, you must consult with the court or tribunal first who will consider and decide on appropriate arrangements.
Crime
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Updated: The Crown Court is hearing all types of applications and cases, including multi-hander trials. Where appropriate, judges continue to deal with a range of work remotely, including sentencing hearings.
- We’ve installed plexiglass screens into over 400 courtrooms and jury deliberation rooms. Over 260 courtrooms have been assessed as being capable and available to hold jury trials.
- Magistrates’ courts are now dealing with most business type hearings. Since August 2020, magistrates’ courts have been completing more cases than have been received and the number of sittings are almost at pre-COVID levels. We are working hard to return this to 100%, in a COVID-safe way.
- The judiciary has published a note of listing in magistrates’ courts during coronavirus outbreak.
Family
- Family courts continue to prioritise work as agreed with the President of the Family Division. Work levels are slowly returning to pre-COVID levels and we are working hard to return this to 100%, in a COVID-safe way.
Civil
Tribunals
Royal Courts of Justice
- The Royal Courts of Justice operational update: The Royal Courts of Justice operational update w/c 4 January 2021 (PDF, 78.6KB, 1 page).
- The High Court is covering work according to the High Court Contingency Plan.
- Queen’s Bench Masters Listing and Action Department Information for Court Users (PDF, 583KB, 14 pages)
- Queen’s Bench Division Information for Court Users (PDF, 277KB, 4 pages)
- More detailed guidance for the Administrative Court Office. Administrative Court Office guidance (PDF, 355KB, 12 pages)
- The Court of Appeal Civil Division is covering work according to the RCJ Court of Appeal Civil urgent business priorities. Court of Appeal Civil urgent business priorities w/c 4 January 2021 (PDF, 90.7KB, 1 page).
- The Court of Appeal Criminal Division is covering work according to the RCJ Court of Appeal Criminal Emergency Plan. RCJ Court of Appeal Criminal Division update w/c 4 January 2021 (PDF, 99.5KB, 3 pages).
- Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office Information for Court Users (PDF, 264KB, 2 pages)
- The Senior Costs Judge has published a note on hearings and detailed assessments in the Senior Courts Costs Office Senior Courts Costs Office update (PDF, 64.6KB, 3 pages).
Judicial announcements