- Victims to receive faster and fairer justice as
trailblazing tech helps reallocate resource
- Technology will allow judges to hear cases hundreds of
miles away
- Part of Government's efforts to modernise courts and tackle
the backlog
The transformative technology has been deployed to allow court
cases to be transferred digitally to judges anywhere in the
country, helping redistribute resources, target courts bogged
down by growing backlogs and spare victims the pain of
devastating delays.
Pioneered in London and the North-East, remote hearings bring
together judges, defendants, lawyers, court staff and witnesses
from across the country, allowing hearings to take place without
the need for everyone to attend court in person.
Cases conducted using this technology uphold the fundamental
principles of fairness, access to justice and open justice,
supported by robust safeguards throughout hearings. Participants
will always have the right to apply to the judge for a
face-to-face hearing.
Courts Minister, KC MP said:
The criminal justice system we inherited was on the brink of
collapse. Hearings were cancelled at the last minute and victims
have faced unacceptable delays. We are pulling every lever to
change this and deliver justice for victims.
This transformational pilot harnesses the power of technology to
connect courts across the country, making better use of resources
and changing how justice is delivered for victims.
This pioneering work marks another step towards building a more
efficient, resilient and modern justice system that delivers for
victims across the country.
With tens of thousands of remote and hybrid hearings already
taking place across England and Wales every month, the reforms
mark a major step towards a more modern court system that's fit
for a digital age.
The pilot has been rolled out in line with the Lady Chief
Justice's latest guidance, with future expansion subject to
evaluation and judicial approval.
Leading the way in technological transformation, the Ministry of
Justice is continuing to invest in video technology, making
remote hearings more accessible and improving support for
vulnerable witnesses.
New arrangements have also been agreed with the National Police
Chiefs' Council and the Crown Prosecution Service to expand the
use of live video links for police witness evidence, making
better use of valuable policing resources.
The expansion coincides with the Courts and Tribunals Bill
returns to Parliament on Tuesday, where the Government will amend
the Bill to remove proposals to limit jury trials, ensuring
almost all Crown Court cases continue to be heard by a jury.
