Guidance

HMCTS weekly operational summary

A weekly summary of the latest HM Courts and Tribunals Service operational position for users. We aim to update this every Friday at 4pm.

From:
HM Courts & Tribunals Service
Published
21 May 2021
Last updated
18 September 2023 — See all updates

We email our ‘HMCTS Update’ to our subscribers on Sunday evenings. Subscribe to receive our email alerts. 

Follow us on Twitter to check for daily or urgent updates.

HMCTS operational summary for week commencing Monday 411 September 2023

The next weekly operational summary will be issued on Friday 815 September 2023.

General

  • Update: Harrow Crown Court is temporarily closed after Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete (RAAC) was found during improvement works. While there is no indication of imminent risk, we expect the entire site will remain closed for six to nine months so that repairs can take place. Work has already been - and will continue to be - relocated to other locations across London and the South East. Find out more information about Harrow Crown Court.

  • Update: Users are temporarily unable to access our online services for Help with Fees, Employment Tribunal refunds, Employment Tribunal ET1 and ET3 and Tax Tribunal. Users are also unable to access applications in progress during this time. Our service pages have been updated with information on how to apply by post or email until the issue is resolved. Sorry for this inconvenience.

  • Reminder: On Saturday 16 September the Royal Courts of Justice (RCJ) will again open its doors to members of the public as part of the capital wide Open House London event. For the first time since 2019, visitors will be able to explore the building and take part in events including mock trials, robing demonstrations and tours of the cells. The event will run from 10am to 4pm.

Crime

OpenCommon daysPlatform

  • Reminder: Legal professionals can join one of our regular online support sessions to get help with:
    • activating or logging into your account
    • accessing case information
    • checking in for a hearing
    • any other aspect of Common Platform

Sessions take place on Tuesdays at 4:30pm and Thursdays at 9am. For details on using Common Platform, watch our videos on how to use Common Platform and account registration and security. You can also read our how-to guides. Book a Common Platform support session

  • Reminder: Please contact our service centre with all queries about Common Platform cases in these London courts, instead of contacting the court directly:
    • Barkingside Magistrates’ Court
    • Romford Magistrates’ Court
    • Stratford Magistrates’ Court
    • Thames Magistrates’ Court

You can:

All new criminal cases are managed on Common Platform in the first instance. Any unique reference number (URN) for a case which includes both numbers and letters refers to a Common Platform case.

If you need to enquire about a case on Libra, or a non-police prosecutor case, please contact the relevant court or email our service centre.

Open Days

  • Reminder: To celebrate 200 years since the first brick of the building was laid,laid, Lincoln Lincoln Crown CourtCourt is is hosting an open day on Saturday 16 September from 10am to 3pm. The event, which is free to attend and open to all ages, will provide a unique insight into how justice is being delivered and improved in the local area. Visitors will have the opportunity to speak with court staff and take part in a range of activities including watching a ‘mock’ trial, visiting the court cells and jury rooms, or even try on a wig and gown. For enquiries relating to the open day, please contact: contact: lincoln.crowncourt@justice.gov.uk. Find more information

  • Reminder: Lewes Crown Court is holding a heritage open day on Saturday 9 September 2023 for 10am to 2pm. All ages are welcome, and visitors will be able to sit in on mock trials, ask questions to judges, tour the courtrooms and cells, and much more. The event will offer a unique insight into the hard work that goes on behind the scenes and provide the local community with an understanding of the inner workings of the criminal court. For any questions or queries, please contact: contact: melanie.kill2@justice.gov.uk.

CommonFind Platform

Civil

  • Update:Reminder: On 7 September 2023 a recruitment exercise begins for 100 District Judge positions across England and Wales. The window to apply will be open until 28 September 2023 and full information about the roles and process is available at the Judicial Appointments Commission website. Find out about the recruitment process.

Judicial guidance and announcements

Previous editions

Published 21 May 2021
Last updated 18 September 2023 + show all updates

  1. Updated for week commencing Monday 11 September.

  2. Update for week commencing Monday 4 September published.

  3. Update for week commencing Monday 28 August published,

  4. Updated for week commencing 21 August 2023

  5. Updated for week commencing Monday 14 August 2023

  6. Updated for week commencing 7 August 2023

  7. Updated for week commencing 31 July 2023

  8. Updated for week commencing 24 July 2023

  9. Update for week commencing Monday 17 July published.

  10. Update for week commencing Monday 10 July 2023 published.

  11. Updated for week commencing 3 July 2023

  12. Updated for week commencing 26 June 2023

  13. Updated for week commencing 19 June 2023

  14. Updated for week commencing Monday 12 June 2023

  15. Updated for Week Commencing 5 June 2023

  16. Updated for week beginning Monday 29 May 2023.

  17. Updated for week beginning Monday 22 May 2023.

  18. Updated for week beginning Monday 15 May 2023.

  19. Updated for week beginning Monday 1 May 2023.

  20. Updated for week commencing Monday 24 April 2023

  21. Updated for week beginning 17 April 2023.

  22. Updated for week commencing Monday 10 April 2023.

  23. Updated for week beginning Monday 3 April 2023.

  24. Updated for week commencing Monday 27 March 2023

  25. Updated for week beginning 20 March 2023.

  26. Updated for week beginning Monday 13 March 2023.

  27. Updated for week commencing Monday 6 March 2023.

  28. HMCTS Update week commencing 27 Feb 2023 added.

  29. Updated for week beginning 20 February 2023.

  30. Updated for week beginning Monday 13 February 2023.

  31. Updated for week beginning 6 February 2023.

  32. Update for week commencing Monday 30 January published.

  33. Update for week commencing Monday 23 January published.

  34. Update for week commencing Monday 16 January 2023 published.

  35. Update for week commencing Monday 9 January 2023 published.

  36. Update for week commencing Monday 2 January 2023 published.

  37. Added translation

  38. Update for week commencing Monday 19 December 2022 published.

  39. Updated for week beginning 12 December 2022.

  40. Update for week commencing Monday 5 December 2022 published.

  41. Update for week commencing Monday 28 November 2022 published.

  42. Added translation

  43. Update for week commencing Monday 21 November 2022 published.

  44. Update for week commencing Monday 14 November published.

  45. Update for week commencing Monday 7 November published.

  46. Added translation

  47. Update for week commencing Monday 31 October 2022 published.

  48. Added translation

  49. Added translation

  50. Update for week commencing Monday 24 October published.

  51. Updated for week commencing 17 October.

  52. Added translation

  53. Updated for week commencing Monday 10 October 2022.

  54. Updated for week commencing Monday 3 October 2022.

  55. Updated for week commencing Monday 26 September 2022.

  56. Added translation

  57. Update for week commencing Monday 5 September 2022 published.

  58. Update for week commencing Monday 29 August 2022 published.

  59. Update for week commencing Monday 22 August 2022 published.

  60. Update for week commencing Monday 15 August 2022 published.

  61. Added translation

  62. Update for week commencing Monday 8 August 2022 published.

  63. Update for week commencing Monday 1 August 2022 published.

  64. Update for week commencing Monday 25 July 2022 published.

  65. Update for week commencing Monday 18 July 2022 published.

  66. Added translation

  67. Update for week commencing Monday 11 July 2022 published.

  68. Updated for week commencing Monday 4 July.

  69. Update for week commencing Monday 27 June 2022 published.

  70. Operational update on bar action added.

  71. Update for week commencing Monday 20 June 2022 published.

  72. Update for week commencing Monday 13 June 2022.

  73. Update for week commencing Monday 6 June 2022 published.

  74. Update for week commencing Monday 30 May 2022 published.

  75. Update for week commencing Monday 23 May 2022 published.

  76. Added translation

  77. Update for week commencing Monday 16 May 2022 published.

  78. Update for week commencing Monday 9 May 2022 published.

  79. Update for week commencing Monday 2 May 2022.

  80. Added translation

  81. Update for week commencing Monday 25 April 2022 published.

  82. Added translation

  83. Update for week commencing Monday 18 April 2022 published.

  84. Update for week commencing Monday 11 April 2022 published.

  85. Added translation

  86. Update for week commencing Monday 4 April 2022 published.

  87. Added translation

  88. Update for week commencing Monday 28 March 2022 published.

  89. Added translation

  90. Update on Common Platform added.

  91. Update for week commencing Monday 21 March 2022 published.

  92. Added translation

  93. Update for week commencing Monday 14 March 2022 published.

  94. Added translation

  95. Added translation

  96. Update for week commencing Monday 7 March 2022 published.

  97. Added translation

  98. Update for week commencing Monday 28 February 2022 published.

  99. Added translation

  100. Update for week commencing Monday 21 February 2022 published.

  101. Added translation

  102. Update for week commencing Monday 14 February 2022 published.

  103. Added translation

  104. Update for week commencing Monday 7 February 2022 published.

  105. Update for week commencing Monday 31 January 2022 published.

  106. Added translation

  107. Update for week commencing Monday 24 January 2022 published.

  108. Added translation

  109. Update for week commencing Monday 17 January 2022 published.

  110. Update for week commencing Monday 10 January 2022 published.

  111. Added translation

  112. Update for week commencing Monday 3 January 2022 published.

  113. Update for week commencing Monday 20 December 2021 published.

  114. Added translation

  115. Update for week commencing Monday 13 December 2021 published.

  116. Update for week commencing Monday 6 December 2021 published.

  117. Added translation

  118. Update for week commencing Monday 29 November published.

  119. Added translation

  120. Update for week commencing Monday 22 November 2021 published.

  121. Added translation

  122. Update for week commencing Monday 15 November published.

  123. Page updated with changes to HMCTS operations for week commencing 8 Nov 2021.

  124. Update for week commencing Monday 1 November 2021 published.

  125. Added translation

  126. Update for week commencing Monday 25 October published.

  127. Update for week commencing Monday 18 October 2021 published.

  128. Added translation

  129. Update for week commencing Monday 11 October 2021 published.

  130. Update for week commencing Monday 4 October 2021 published.

  131. Added translation

  132. Update for week commencing Monday 27 September published.

  133. Added translation

  134. Update for week commencing Monday 20 September 2021 published.

  135. Added translation

  136. Update for week commencing Monday 13 September published.

  137. Update for week commencing Monday 6 September 2021 published.

  138. Added translation

  139. Update for week commencing Monday 30 August 2021 published.

  140. Added translation

  141. Updated for week commencing Monday 23 August 2021.

  142. Welsh translation added.

  143. Update for week commencing Monday 16 August 2021 published.

  144. Added translation

  145. Update for week commencing Monday 9 August 2021 published.

  146. Added translation

  147. Update for week commencing Monday 2 August 2021 published.

  148. Added translation

  149. Update for week commencing Monday 26 July 2021 published.

  150. Added translation

  151. Updated COVID guidance pages added.

  152. Update for week commencing Monday 19 July 2021 published.

  153. Added translation

  154. Update for week commencing Monday 12 July published.

  155. Added translation

  156. Update for week commencing Monday 5 July 2021.

  157. Added translation

  158. Update for week commencing Monday 28 June 2021 published.

  159. Added translation

  160. Update for week commencing Monday 21 June 2021 published.

  161. Added translation

  162. Update for week commencing Monday 14 June 2021 published.

  163. Added translation

  164. Update for week commencing Monday 7 June 2021 published.

  165. Update for week commencing Monday 31 May 2021 published.

  166. Added translation

  167. Added line on operational status of courts in areas where COVID19 variant is spreading.

  168. First published.

Contents