HMCTS outlines plans to increase capacity across courts and tribunals in England following the removal of the legal requirement for social distancing from next week

However, Acting CEO confirms that face coverings will still be required in staff, public and communal parts of all HMCTS buildings

HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has outlined its plans to increase capacity across courts and tribunals in England following the removal of the legal requirement for social distancing from next week.

In a new blog post, Acting CEO of HMCTS Kevin Sadler says that -

'The government has confirmed that the legal requirement for social distancing in England will be removed from Monday 19 July 2021, as well as the detail of which other aspects of step 4 on the roadmap will be adopted ...

With social distancing  - the single biggest barrier to recovery - no longer required in England, we are reviewing our plans so that we can work within the new government and Public Health guidelines to increase our capacity and deliver services across our courts and tribunals for those who rely on us.'

While Mr Sadler says that a revised organisational risk assessment and updated guidance will not be published until next week, he reassures that planning has been carried out in anticipation of the changes being introduced and that -

'Working with the judiciary, we will be increasing capacity safely to reduce outstanding cases, and as a result the number of people in our buildings will gradually increase. This will happen alongside continued use of audio and video technology to enable remote attendance. We will also continue to encourage the regular use of lateral flow tests.'

Mr Sadler adds that while courts and tribunals in England will only be required to have minimal social distancing measures in place from next week, there will be some exceptions, including -

• face coverings will still be required in staff, public and communal parts of all HMCTS buildings;
• screens or barriers will continue to be used to separate people from each other who come into close proximity with others they do not normally meet.

In addition, Mr Sadler says that every HMCTS building has been thoroughly assessed against Public Health guidance for ventilation and that CO2 monitors will be used as additional assurance in building areas identified through risk assessment processes.

NB - it is expected that most coronavirus restrictions will be lifted in Wales on 7 August 2021, and on 9 August 2021 in Scotland.

For more information, see Safely increasing capacity in our buildings from 19 July from gov.uk

Update (19 July 2021): HMCTS has now issued updated guidance to include step 4 of the government roadmap in England from 19 July 2021, and an updated Organisational Covid-19 risk assessment.