Recommendation 10

HM Government Accepted

49. In 2023, we will develop and publish a charter for members of the public that summarises the existing rules that facilitate public access to court and tribunal hearings and information. It will sit alongside the Reporters’ Charter which HMCTS published in May 202248 and was well received. It is important to note that the charter itself would not create new or different rights and responsibilities but will be a quick reference guide and signpost to more detailed guidance. 42 https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/cjji/ 43 https://www.justiceinspectorates.gov.uk/hmiprobation/ 44 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/hm-courts-and-tribunals-service/about/our-governance 45 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-annual-reports-and-plans 46 https://www.nao.org.uk/about-us/ 47 https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/hmcts-management-information 48 https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/government/uploads/system/uploads/attachment_data/file/1074233/ HMCTS702_Reporters_Charter_A4P_v4.pdf JSC11a: The Reporters’ Charter helpfully directs the media to the MOJ press office and the Judicial Press Office to deal with enquiries and issues on accessing court proceedings and information. There should be a single point of contact for all accessibility and open justice inquiries from the media and from the public. The Lord Chief Justice told us that, if a journalist encounters an issue accessing a court, he or she should “get in touch with their local court and ask why”. In reality, at present there is no formal official mechanism for the media or the public to raise accessibility enquiries or complaints in relation to the courts. The creation of regional communication and information officers within HMCTS could provide that point of contact for reporters and the public. 50. Please refer to paragraph 42 to 44 in relation to the JSC’s proposal to create regional communication and information officers. 51. Our online Find a Court or Tribunal (FCT) service49, and the new CATH service, help people swiftly find the correct contact details for individual courts. Where issues are brought to HMCTS’s attention, it works swiftly with its frontline staff to address these and ensure guidance is being adhered to. 52. Through its reform programme, HMCTS will continue to consider how it can make it easier for the public and media to contact court officials and support staff, and improve consistency and efficiency when it comes to accessing information and services. It is right and proper, however, that the Government and judiciary maintain separate press offices. JSC11b: The courts’ inspectorate, as we proposed in our report on court capacity, could have a specific remit to examine the operation of open justice. 53. Please refer to paragraphs 45 to 48 above.