Some staff appear to have misunderstood how the safety system works.
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There are concerns of Covid-19 safety in courts as the government is accused of “paying lip service” to safety, as concerns emerge about efforts to stop the spread within the justice system.
An investigation into London courthouses revealed that a third of weekly safety assessments between May and December are missing.
HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) insists its courts are “Covid-secure”.
But, an analysis of the reports reveals that issues went unaddressed for months with some staff appearing to have misunderstood how the safety system worked.
“The government has been paying lip service to health and safety”, said criminal barrister Tony Wyatt.
“The courts service has set up a safety system and is expecting people to run it who haven’t been trained properly and have a hundred other things to do.”
The PCS Union say their efforts to scrutinise safety assessments have been repeatedly rebuffed.
Some of London’s courts consistently rated themselves as “green” despite reporting a number of issues. Other courts signed off as “amber” while failing to record what issues they faced.
The Ministry of Justice pandemic contingency plan relies on weekly information from the courts. However, the records show gaps of up to four months between updated safety assessments in some places.
Government Response
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said that £83m had been invested in making courts “Covid-secure”.
“The work that is done to make our courts safe is done in conjunction with Public Health England and Public Health Wales”, he said.
He added, “I do believe in local initiative and I have seen it in action from HMCTS staff, who know the buildings, in which some of them have worked for many years, better than anybody.”
HMCTS say public health authorities have endorsed its approach to safety in the pandemic. And that the numbers of cases of the virus among court users have followed national trends.
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Standfirst
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HeadlineConcerns raised over Covid-19 safety in London’s courts
Short HeadlineGovernment paying 'lip service' to Covid-19 court safety
StandfirstA third of weekly safety assessments between May and December last year are missing.
There are concerns of Covid-19 safety in courts as the government is accused of “paying lip service” to safety, as concerns emerge about efforts to stop the spread within the justice system.
An investigation into London courthouses revealed that a third of weekly safety assessments between May and December are missing.
HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) insists its courts are “Covid-secure”.
But, an analysis of the reports reveals that issues went unaddressed for months with some staff appearing to have misunderstood how the safety system worked.
“The government has been paying lip service to health and safety”, said criminal barrister Tony Wyatt.
“The courts service has set up a safety system and is expecting people to run it who haven’t been trained properly and have a hundred other things to do.”
The PCS Union say their efforts to scrutinise safety assessments have been repeatedly rebuffed.
Some of London’s courts consistently rated themselves as “green” despite reporting a number of issues. Other courts signed off as “amber” while failing to record what issues they faced.
The Ministry of Justice pandemic contingency plan relies on weekly information from the courts. However, the records show gaps of up to four months between updated safety assessments in some places.
Government Response
Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said that £83m had been invested in making courts “Covid-secure”.
“The work that is done to make our courts safe is done in conjunction with Public Health England and Public Health Wales”, he said.
He added, “I do believe in local initiative and I have seen it in action from HMCTS staff, who know the buildings, in which some of them have worked for many years, better than anybody.”
HMCTS say public health authorities have endorsed its approach to safety in the pandemic. And that the numbers of cases of the virus among court users have followed national trends.
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