HMCTS weekly operational update: week commencing 25 May 2020

26 MAY 2020

Next update will be issued on Friday 29 May 2020.

    • Where courts and tribunals are closed, we’ll contact parties directly to confirm new hearing arrangements. We’ll contact those parties whose hearings were scheduled to happen first, and work our way through the list as quickly as possible. Please be patient while we do this, and avoid making contact if you can.
    • We’re continuing to avoid physical hearings and arranging remote hearings wherever possible. Anyone who requires technical support for a telephone or video hearing can call 0330 8089405.
    • Our South East region will only be taking calls between 10am to 2pm in all jurisdictions (with the exceptions on the next line).
    • Chelmsford, Norwich, Ipswich and Basildon Crown Courts are temporarily unable to answer calls. The recorded message will advise you what to do.

Crime

    • Crown Courts are dealing with a range of work, much of which is being done remotely. This includes sentencing hearings and all urgent applications including applications for bail and applications to extend custody time limits. Pre-trial preparation hearings and further case management hearings are also taking place.
    • Magistrates’ courts continue to cover urgent work, such as cases where the defendant is being held in police or prison custody. The courts are also dealing with Domestic Violence Protection Orders and giving priority to offences which are committed in circumstances linked to the present Covid-19 pandemic. Magistrates' court cases update: w/c 25 May 2020 (PDF, 236KB, 1 page).
    • Various other work including police traffic prosecution prosecutions, is being with dealt with remotely using the Single Justice Procedure.
    • We are making plans to start dealing with other cases where the defendant is on bail, during June.
    • All questions about paying an outstanding criminal court fine should be sent to our National Compliance and Enforcement Service at NCESBCT@justice.gov.uk or call 0300 123 9252.

Family

Civil

Tribunals

    • The Upper Tribunal Immigration and Asylum Chamber has made changes to the way it currently works. Since Thursday 30 April 2020, all Judicial Review applications can be lodged using email. Upper Tribunal IAC Judicial Review changes (PDF, 173KB, 2 pages).

Royal Courts of Justice

The Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office has temporarily closed. Royal Courts of Justice Fees Office update: w/c 25 May 2020 (PDF, 253KB, 1 page).