HMCTS weekly operational summary

HMCTS operational summary for week commencing Monday 306 MayJune 2022

Next week’s update will be issued on WednesdayFriday 110 June 2022.

• Updated: NewBarristers measuresand tosolicitors protectwith victimscross-examination ofexpertise domesticand abusevulnerable fromwitness beingand cross-examinedadvocacy bytraining allegedare perpetrators,invited andto viceregister versa,for willcourt comeappointed intocross-examination forcework soon in civilfamily and familycivil courts.proceedings. LegalNew practitionersDomestic withAbuse familyAct and2021 civilmeasures courtwill cross-examinationprohibit expertisealleged andperpetrators vulnerableof witnessdomestic orabuse advocacyand trainingtheir mayvictims befrom appointedcross-examining directlyeach byother, with the court inappointing placelegal ofpractitioners ato cross-examine prohibited party. parties. For more information oron torequirements register,and registration, please email:contact: QLRCross-Exam@justice.gov.uk.
• Updated:Reminder: We announced that a new tribunals centre will open in London by the end of 2023.
• Updated:Reminder: Courts and tribunals will be closed between Thursday 2 June and Saturday 4 June 2022. Remand courts will remain open during this period. Please check find a court or tribunal before travelling.
• Updated:Reminder: Our Courts and Tribunals Service Centres will be closed between Thursday 2 June and Saturday 4 June 2022. There will be limited service on these days for crime-related queries available between 8am and 2pm. Services will re-open as usual on Monday 6 June 2022.
• Updated:Reminder: The pilot on extended our Courts and Tribunals Service Centres opertaing hours will end on Saturday 28 May 2022. From Monday 30 May 2022 both divorce and probate contact hours will revert to 8am to 6pm (Monday to Friday), and services will be closed to the public on Saturdays. This includes calls and webchat.
• Reminder: We’ve launched a new Reporters’ Charter to outline the rights and responsibilities of court reporters and to boost transparency in the justice system.

Crime

• Reminder: Section 28 measures have been rolled out to a further 14 locations to support more victims of rape and sexual offences with the stress of being cross-examined in court.
• Reminder: Before a defence professional attends court for a Common Platform hearing, they will need to complete their account and security set up. This includes setting up the Microsoft Authenticator app on a registered mobile phone.
• Reminder: SectionIf 28you measures have beena rolledCommon outPlatform account, you need to alogin furtherat 14least locationsonce every 90 days to supportkeep moreit victimsactive. ofIf rapeyour account is inactive for 90 days, it will be deregistered for security reasons. If you are deregistered, ask your organisation administrator to re-register you.
• Reminder: We published step-by-step guidance for defence professionals on how to use Common Platform, and sexualguidance offencesfor withorganisational theadministrators stressat oflegal beingfirms cross-examinedand inchambers court.on creating user accounts, assigning roles, and other system tasks.
• Reminder: To find case details on Common Platform, defence professionals will need the case unique reference number and the first name, last name and date of birth of all defendants. The case reference number can be obtained from the charge sheet, public court list or by contacting our service centre by email: ProfessionalContactCrime@justice.gov.uk or call 0330 808 4407.
• Reminder: For help and support in using Common Platform, defence professionals should speak to their organisation’s administrator or contact our helpdesk. Telephone 0300 303 0688, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm (excluding bank holidays), or email CJSCP-DefenceServiceDesk@hmcts.net.
• Reminder: We published step-by-step guidance for defence professionals on how to use Common Platform, and guidance for organisational administrators at legal firms and chambers on creating user accounts, assigning roles, and other system tasks.
• Reminder: Defence solicitors and barristers attending court for a Common Platform hearing should use the professional check-in feature, in both the Crown and magistrates’ courts.
• Reminder: IfThis youlets havethe acourt Commonknow Platform account, you needare topresent, loginand atrecords least once every 90 days to keep it active. If your accountname isagainst inactivethe forcourt 90record days, it will be deregistered for securitypayment reasons. If you are deregistered, ask your organisation administrator to re-register you.purposes.

Civil

• Updated: OnThe Thursdayplanned 2update Juneto 2022, the Civil Procedure RulesRules, willstating be updated to state that solicitorsresponses responding to claims formade damages issued through the Damages Claims Portal (DCP) must respond using DCP. This covers all claims that fall under Practice Direction 51ZB. Signshould upbe tomade MyHMCTSusing andthe watchDamages ourClaims videoPortal, forhas morebeen informationdelayed. onWe howwill toannounce issuea andnew responddate toin adue claim online.course.

Family

• Reminder: New guidance on responding to a new family public law order application on MyHMCTS is available on GOV.UK.

Judicial guidance and announcements

• For the latest practice directions, advice, and guidance please visit the Judicial Office website.

Previous editions

• Week commencing Monday 30 May 2022
• Week commencing Monday 23 May 2022
• Week commencing Monday 16 May 2022
• Week commencing Monday 9 May 2022
• Week commencing Monday 2 May 2022
• Week commencing Monday 25 April 2022
• Week commencing Monday 18 April 2022
• Week commencing Monday 11 April 2022
• Week commencing Monday 4 April 2022
• Week commencing Monday 28 March 2022
• Week commencing Monday 21 March 2022
• Week commencing Monday 14 March 2022
• Week commencing Monday 7 March 2022