“Video hearings are being extended in a number of courts across the country as part of an initiative involving police and courts staff working together. Assistant Chief Constable Ruth Purdie from Cheshire Police explains the benefits of these new ‘virtual courts’ for the justice system.”
Ministry of Justice, 27th February 2012
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Increased use of virtual courts and live links technology is making justice quicker and more effective, Justice Ministers Nick Herbert and Jonathan Djanogly said today (28 November).”
Ministry of Justice, 28th November 2011
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Rolling out virtual courts would cost more than it would save, a report found today. A pilot project, in which defendants appeared via video link from a police station for their first appearance at a magistrates’ court, cost £247 more per case than the traditional court process, the study for the Ministry of Justice found.”
The Independent, 21st December 2010
Source: www.independent.co.uk
“Courts should make more use of video links to make it easier for witnesses to give evidence without going to court, the government has said.”
BBC News, 19th October 2010
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“A government scheme to allow defendants to be dealt with via ‘virtual courts’ is being boycotted by solicitors who say it is ‘justice on the cheap’.
BBC News, 31st July 2009
Source: www.bbc.co.uk
“The new virtual court pilot in Lewisham Police Station was formally opened today by Justice Ministers Bridget Prentice and Claire Ward.”
Ministry of Justice, 30th July 2009
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Justice Secretary Jack Straw praised the first virtual court pilot for delivering justice faster and more efficiently, when he visited Camberwell Green Magistrates’ Court.”
Ministry of Justice, 27th May 2009
Source: www.justice.gov.uk
“Jack Straw, the Justice Secretary, was in court yesterday — to defend his plans for ‘virtual courts’, under which thousands of defendants will lose their right to have a courtroom hearing.”
The Times, 28th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Thousands of criminal suspects will lose the right to appear in court and be brought instead before ‘virtual’ courts conducted via video links under plans before Parliament next week.”
The Times, 18th May 2009
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
“Frail and vulnerable elderly people will be able to give evidence from their own homes via video link to courts in a drive to prosecute more crimes against old people.”
The Times, 8th November 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Court has common-law power to let accused appear by video link
Court of Appeal (Criminal Division)
“The court had no power outside the statutory provisions of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to direct that an accused could give evidence at his trial by live video link; however, in exceptional circumstances where it was appropriate for the defendant not to be present in court, it did have power to direct that he could participate in his trial by other means such as live video link.”
The Times, 6th September 2007
Source: www.timesonline.co.uk
Please note the Times Law Reports are only available free on Times Online for 21 days from the date of publication.
“There is no power outside the statutory provisions of the Youth Justice and Criminal Evidence Act 1999 to direct that a defendant can give evidence at his trial by live video link; however, in exceptional circumstances where it is appropriate for the defendant not to be present in court, there is power to direct that he can participate in his trial by other means such as live video link.“
WLR Daily, 1st August 2007
Source: www.lawreports.co.uk
Please note: once a case has been fully reported in one of the ICLR series the corresponding WLR Daily summary is removed.
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