• UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
NewsExplored
  • UK
  • World
    • USA
  • Entertainment
    • Celeb
    • Showbiz
    • Magazine
  • Politics
  • Sports
  • Gaming
  • Tech
  • Science
    • Education
  • Insurance
  • Business
  • Auto
  • ToS/Contact
    • ToS
    • Privacy Policy
    • Contact
  • Facebook

  • Twitter

  • LinkedIn

  • Tumblr

  • RSS

UK

Coronavirus: Can the pandemic make us rethink our courts?

Coronavirus: Can the pandemic make us rethink our courts?
Newsexplored
2nd August 2020
5
SHARES
ShareTweet
SubscribeRedditGoogleWhatsappStumbleuponPinterestDiggLinkedinTumblrTelegram
Views:
3
Lord Thomas
Image caption Lord Thomas was Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales between 2013 and 2017

The coronavirus pandemic has given us a chance to be more creative in finding solutions for the courts, according to the former Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales.

With backlogs, poor pay and an obsession with the dock, Lord Thomas of Cwmgiedd says we should rethink the way our courts operate.

While many crown and magistrates courts have reopened since lockdown, large jury trials remain problematic because of social distancing and some cases that were put on hold are yet to be relisted.

“The one thing we can’t have happen is for delays to build up – that is an overriding consideration,” said Lord Thomas.

Image caption The jury benches at Cardiff Crown Court look different in the pandemic

‘It’s compelled us to think again’

“I think the most important thing is that the Covid-19 experience has not diminished the quality of justice,” said Lord Thomas.

Many courts have used video technology to allow hearings to continue – and the former Lord Chief Justice would like to see that expanded upon.

“One of the really important factors to bear in mind is that the pandemic has given us an opportunity to be creative, it’s compelled us to think again.

“And the solutions we’ve had to adopt at great speed may not be the right ones, but at least they open the box to much wider and more informed thinking.”

Image caption Cardiff Crown Court, where distancing measures have been imposed

‘Do you have to have all the prisoners in the dock?’

At a recent online seminar held by Swansea University, Judge Meleri Tudur explained that the move to using video links for special educational needs tribunals, meant participants no longer had the stress of travel, parking and formal settings, but could present their case from the comfort of their homes.

“I think the experience of most judges is that in civil cases, hearing evidence over a video link is not a problem,” said Lord Thomas.

“In criminal cases, this may be more difficult,” he said, though stressed it’s still possible to see “the whites of a defendant’s eyes” even by video – sometimes more clearly.

data-ad-format="auto">

“We have got to try and look at all of these options.”

Image copyright PA Media
Image caption Video link technology in a Scottish court

But should we be more innovative and use bigger conference facilities?

“I think so, I mean there is a question as to the dock,” he said.

“Do you have to have all the prisoners in the dock? There are certain types of case where the risk of escape is so high that you probably need to do that. But whether we need to put all defendants in a dock is a question mark that has been raised.


“Many countries in the world don’t do so, but we have been very reluctant to go down this route, and when I was Lord Chief Justice, when I raised the question, it caused rather a storm, but it’s something we should revisit.”

As BBC Wales reported on Friday, a backlog of outstanding cases in England and Wales had already reached 40,173 in the crown courts by the end of March – a 21% increase on the previous year.

In magistrates’ courts the figure had risen 11% to 326,000.

But figures for 21 June show, because of Covid-19, crown courts now had 41,599 cases waiting to be heard, and magistrates had over half a million, at 510,559.

It has been estimated that Newport and Cardiff crown courts each have a backlog of 2,000 cases.

“A backlog did build up. And for some years, the criminal justice system has been underfunded,” said Lord Thomas.

Image caption Lord Thomas as Lord Chief Justice of England and Wales in 2017

‘Obsessed with the dock’

“One of the most serious aspects of that is, first of all, the person who’s in custody. But equally seriously, the kind of case where the defendant is accused of some form of assault, possibly sexual assault. And for that to be delayed is awful for the victim.

“The legal profession is immensely conservative and it’s not prepared to look enough at the alternatives.

“More than 20 years ago, I used to sit in Swansea and I sat trying criminal cases in the old council chamber. There was no problem about that. We then became obsessed with the dock and with security. And I think it was an obsession that was misplaced.

“Fortunately, we’re now having to re-examine these things.”

But additional courts have staffing implications too.

“There are two problems in relation to staff, first of all, court staff are not well-paid in relation to other members of government service. It’s possible for an experienced, well-qualified person who has a position in the crown court to make a substantial increase in salary by transferring to another government department.”

Lord Thomas said the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) had “grossly underfunded” its staff for some considerable time but there was also a problem with lack of numbers.

“There is a lot that can be done, and should be done to increase the number of staff that you have available,” he insisted.

“Where I would see real room for progress is using buildings on an occasional, multi-use basis, and therefore using more staff, and certainly paying them much better than they are currently paid.”

The MoJ has argued that it is innovating, including using cloud video technology in more than 10,000 criminal cases so far, while it had also expanded remote access to hearings.

It said it was also “investing millions in buildings and technology”.

It added: “We place great value on all our staff, which is why we ensure their pay is fair and regularly reviewed.

“We are working on our annual pay award, which will take into account any issues or concerns around pay.”

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Google+ (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on LinkedIn (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Tumblr (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on WhatsApp (Opens in new window)
  • Share on Skype (Opens in new window)

Related

Related Itemscoronaviruscourtspandemicrethink
UK
2nd August 2020
Newsexplored @newsexploredweb

Related Itemscoronaviruscourtspandemicrethink

More in UK

  • Read More
    The Papers: ‘No EU can’t have our jabs’ and ‘schools out’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe dispute between the EU and AstraZeneca over coronavirus vaccine supply makes...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    Scottish budget: What do you need to know?

    Views:3 By Philip SimBBC Scotland News image copyrightPA The Scottish government is to set out its budget...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    Scottish independence: Will there be a second referendum?

    Views:3 image copyrightGetty Images image captionIndependence campaigners have been hoping for a new referendum since 2014 Boris...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: Front pages mark UK’s 100,000 Covid deaths

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionThe solemn face of Boris Johnson dominates many of the front pages,...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: Quarantine hotels plan and holidays ‘under threat’

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionSeveral of the front pages look ahead to potential new travel restrictions,...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    Extra £50m pledged for virus-hit grassroots sport

    Views:3 Grassroots clubs have stated that many could go out of business due to the pandemic An...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    Hercule Van Wolfwinkle: Worthing pet artist raises £50k for homeless

    Views:3 image copyrightHERCULE VAN WOLFWINKLE image captionA fake pet profile for this dog says: “Timothy likes skidding...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    Frank Lampard: Chelsea sack manager with Thomas Tuchel expected to replace him

    Views:3 Frank Lampard won 28 of his 57 Premier League games in charge of Chelsea Chelsea have...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    Scotland’s papers: New Covid strain in Scotland and ‘save Union’ plan

    Views:3 image captionThe Herald says Scotland has identified at least three cases of the South African coronavirus...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    The Papers: Schools out ’till Easter’ for ‘lost generation’ kids

    Views:3 By BBC NewsStaff image captionIt’s looking more likely that parents in England “will have many more...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    Snow in the UK: Wintry weather in pictures

    Views:3 image copyrightPA Wire image captionPeople tumbled into action to make the most of the rare snowfall...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
  • Read More
    Covid: Four vaccine centres shut amid snow alert for Wales

    Views:3 Published 17 minutes ago Related Topics image copyrightTraffic Wales image captionSnow on the M4 Junction 24...

    Newsexplored 2nd August 2020
Scroll for more
Tap
data-ad-format="auto">
NewsExplored

NewsExplored - Making sure all the latest news is explored?

Contact us for help

  • Popular

  • Latest

  • Comments

  • Australian Open: Heather Watson among 47 players to quarantine in Melbourne after Covid cases on flights
    Sports16th January 2021
  • The Papers: ‘Fortress Britain’ and ‘modern miracle workers’
    UK15th January 2021
  • Fashion lookahead: Eight major 2021 looks from tie-dye to pastels
    Entertainment30th December 2020
  • Fifa 21 and Frozen 2 top digital sales of 2020
    Tech8th January 2021
  • Joe Biden: The team he hopes can fix the US economy
    USA27th January 2021
  • Biden kicks off inclusive LGBT agenda
    USA26th January 2021
  • White House pets: Cats, dogs and raccoons through the years
    USA26th January 2021
  • Tampa Bay Buccaneers 31-26 Green Bay Packers; Buffalo Bills 24-38 Kansas City Chiefs
    USA25th January 2021
  • Les Rehrer says:

    Hello Its me :P and thanks for this post

  • optumrx login says:

    Thank For News.

  • Kent Laatsch says:

    Please let me know if you're looking for a writer…

  • Bob says:

    RT News was where I learned that Erdogan controlled isis.…

Copyright © 2018 Top News Theme. Theme by MVP Themes, powered by Wordpress.

Coronavirus: Funeral services ‘could have been overwhelmed’
Coronavirus: What happens if I’m in an area on the watchlist?
We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok