HM Courts and Tribunals Service has announced that it is continuing to provide the professional users’ access scheme at those courts which are currently open to the public and that are able to maintain two entry systems as part of the COVID-19 safety rules.
The announcement says: " As we continue to take careful steps towards fully re-opening our justice system, the journey back to a ‘new normal’ is made with the safety of all court users as our primary concern. In keeping many of our buildings running during the pandemic – and doing so safely - we’ve introduced a range of enhanced hygiene and safety measures which have been crucial for court users, including legal professionals and our own courts and tribunals staff, to have the confidence they need to be able to continue, or return, to work."
HMCTS has taken a flexible approach, allowing equipment required to operate the scheme to be moved between courts in response to local demand. Additionally, HMCTS is continuing with the plan to roll out the scheme permanently across more courts in England and Wales, with the aim of a national rollout by autumn 2020.
Practitioners are assured that once they present their scheme ID, they will not have to go through a full procedure search, where equipment makes this possible.
The full announcement can be read here.
