Online discussion with HMCTS on their response to Step 4 Tuesday 27^th July, 5-6pm

You can register to attend this event here https://www.eventbrite.co.uk/e/hmcts-roadmap-milestone-4-registration-152691262677?utm_medium=email&utm_source=.  We are concerned to hear of plans to return to early morning and late evening court sessions, only months after the most recent attempt to introduce flexible operating hours were shelved.  It has long been the desire of the Ministry to introduce court sessions in unsociable hours, despite uniform opposition within the criminal justice sector. You may want to attend to ask what safety measures in court buildings are being retained and, most importantly, for how long.

Contractual compliance and supervision of PS representatives:

I have been invited to share the LAA’s announcement that supervisors should inspect and approve the accuracy of information for police station representatives; https://www.gov.uk/government/news/crime-news-updating-the-police-station-representatives-register .  The link contains information on how to record details of those who may not have met minimum attendance volumes owing to the pandemic.

Providers should receive an email direct from the DSCC with further instructions.  Please heed the warning if this is not done by the end of August:  “We expect the exercise to be completed by the end of August 2021. Failure to return a data validation form may result in representatives having their PIN cancelled.”

Changes to the CPR
I recommending reading this guide to forthcoming amendments to the CPR, due to come into force on the 4^th October.  Of note, Goodyear Indications are coming to magistrates’ and youth courts and in cases where a defendant is committed for sentence, the time limit to appeal the conviction will begin on the date they were committed rather than when they are sentenced in the Crown Court.

Mark Troman

LCCSA President