Source · Select Committees · Justice Committee
Recommendation 15
15
Accepted
Paragraph: 49
Gather and publish detailed data on remote court proceeding observation requests by jurisdiction.
Recommendation
We recommend that HMCTS gathers and publishes data on requests to observe proceedings remotely. In particular, it would be useful to know the number of requests received and the number of requests granted by jurisdiction.
Government Response Summary
HMCTS commits to making the Video Hearing (VH) service its sole platform for all remote and hybrid hearings, and as it is developed, it will have in-built functionality to automatically collect anonymised data on the number of observers at each hearing.
Paragraph Reference:
49
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
60. Partly as a legacy of the pandemic, HMCTS currently utilise a number of video hearing platforms, including Microsoft Teams, the Cloud Video Platform,58 and the Video Hearing (VH) service.59 Consequently, it is unable to gather reliable data on the 52 https://www.judiciary.uk/about-the-judiciary/diversity/schools-engagement/ 53 https://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/ 54 https://www.magistrates-association.org.uk/What-we-do/Magistrates-in-the-Community 55 https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/attorney-generals-office 56 https://www.gov.uk/find-court-tribunal 57 https://www.court-tribunal-hearings.service.gov.uk/ 58 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-to-join-a-cloud-video-platform-cvp-hearing/how-to-join- cloud-video-platform-cvp-for-a-video-hearing 59 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/hmcts-reform-infrastructure-and-enabling-services-fact-sheets/ fact-sheet-video-hearings-service total number of requests or actual observers at hearings that utilise video conferencing technology. In a similar manner, HMCTS does not routinely collect data on the number of people who visit public galleries. 61. However, it is HMCTS’s intention to make the VH service its sole platform for all remote and hybrid hearings, and to facilitate remote access to in-person hearings. As the service is developed, it will have the in-built functionality to automatically collect (anonymised) data on the number of observers at each hearing.