By Jemma Slingo2021-01-26T11:54:00+00:00
A range of new Covid measures are to be introduced at magistrates’ courts, as lawyers continue to flag ‘daily failings’ in safety standards.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service is to pilot a technique called ‘misting’ at around 60 magistrates’ courts nationwide, with a focus on London. This involves spraying surfaces with an antiviral disinfectant which settles and purportedly safeguards a single room for up to 28 days. The courts service said this will allow more people to use custody suites without compromising their safety.
TfL uses misting to disinfect its tube carriages
Source: Transport for London/Alamy Stock Photo
By Monidipa Fouzder2021-01-22T12:40:00+00:00
Lateral flow testing will be piloted at Manchester Civil Justice Centre next week as part of wider efforts to improve court safety during the pandemic, HM Courts & Tribunals Service has revealed.
Prisoners moving between HMP Bristol and the courts will also be tested for Covid-19 and this will shortly extend to London, HMCTS said in a webinar on court safety.
An independent contractor will conduct cleaning audits at 80 sites during February and March.
When there are Covid cases connected to court, HMCTS said it does its best to find out if there have been any close contacts. If there are two or more cases at one location, or HMCTS is particularly worried about a symptomatic individual, a ‘warn and inform’ notice is issued to court users. However, the agency plans to introduce a ‘reverse contact’ method of tracing whereby people can inform the court that they are potentially a close contact.
By Monidipa Fouzder2021-01-20T20:04:00+00:00
Lawyers and trade unions have joined forces to tell HM Courts & Tribunals Service boss Kevin Sadler to step up safety measures at court or face a ‘political, legal and industrial’ response.
The statement calling for action has been signed by the Criminal Bar Association, Criminal Law Solicitors’ Association, London Criminal Courts Solicitors’ Association, Solicitors’ Association of Higher Courts Advocates, Public and Commercial Services Union, FDA (a union representing Crown Prosecution Service prosecutors), National Association of Probation Officers and Family Courts, and Prison, Correctional and Secure Psychiatric Workers.
The bodies call for an immediate review of safety arrangements across the court estate amid growing concerns that the buildings are not, as HMCTS has repeatedly claimed, ‘Covid secure’.
By Gazette reporter2021-01-21T11:32:00+00:00
The Law Society has persuaded HM Courts & Tribunals Service that use of the Common Video Platform should be the default position for solicitors involved in magistrates’ court proceedings in Wales. Following talks, it has been agreed that in relation to CVP, written applications are not required and CVP requests can now be made orally on the day of the hearing.
Similar guidance has been issued to the Crown Prosecution Service.
‘The stance that will be taken by the court is that when notified by defence solicitors that they wish to appear via CVP, the request will be treated as granted unless the court decides it is not in the interests of justice,’ said Mark Davies, vice-chair of the Society’s Wales committee.