A scheme allowing practising legal professionals direct
entrance to courts without the need to be searched will be
piloted by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) in five
courts, with registration beginning in August and
fast-track entry from September.
The Bar Council has led the development of an app for its
members to use as ID, and Law Society members will benefit
from the pilot, using approved photo ID.
While tightened security procedures introduced during the
last year will continue, the ‘Professional Entry Scheme’
intends to ease queues to get into court buildings and
allow easier and swifter access for legal professionals who
come to court regularly.
The scheme will recognise the trusted status of legal
professionals without compromising security and is
supported by the judiciary.
Justice Minister, , said:
Courts and tribunals are the daily workplace for many
trusted legal professionals. This pilot will make it
easier for them to simply get on with their job.
Of course, we need to do this in the right way, without
compromising the security of our courts. To ensure this
pilot is a success we are working closely with the legal
profession.
Chair of the Bar, Andrew Walker QC, said:
The Bar Council has worked hard with HMCTS to
promote a scheme that enables barristers to avoid long
delays and searches.
We are delighted that this has now led to a pilot of the
Professional Entry Scheme. If the pilot is a success,
then the new secure, easy to use ID app that we are
developing should enable practising barristers to make
the most of the scheme, wherever they practise.
Law Society President, Christina Blacklaws, said:
There is no doubt that easier access will benefit our
members and we welcome this sensible initiative.
We have spoken to HMCTS officials
about the delays practitioners can face in clearing
security and we hope the pilot will pave the way for a
permanent system of easier access.
In advance of the pilot, practising legal professions will
need to register with their local court, agree to
conditions of entry (which continue to include a list of
prohibited items) and meet secure ID authentication
requirements when they attend court. This includes
identifying themselves as a legal professional and showing
photographic ID, which will be checked by a court security
officer against a registration list.
Random searches on a proportion of the participants in the
pilot will be carried out to make sure the scheme is
working as intended.
Legal practitioners will be invited to register with their
local court from today, with fast-track entries predicted
to open in early September.
If successful, the scheme will be extended nationally and
could be grown to other professional groups. It will not be
implemented at courts hearing terrorist or high security
cases.
