Overview

The Courts (Remote Hearings) Bill aims to legalize the use of remote video and audio links for certain civil and family court hearings in England and Wales. This will allow individuals to participate in court proceedings from a distance, potentially increasing accessibility and efficiency.

Description

This bill amends several existing acts to explicitly permit remote participation via live video or audio links in various court proceedings. The amendments specifically target:

• Family Law Act 1996: Allows for remote appearances for those arrested for breaching court orders.
• Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014: Allows for remote appearances for those arrested without a warrant.
• Policing and Crime Act 2009: Allows for remote appearances before a judge for those arrested without a warrant.
• Local Government Finance Act 1992: Allows for debtors to appear remotely in enforcement proceedings.

The bill defines "live video link" and "live audio link" according to Section 56 of the Criminal Justice Act 2003.

The bill applies to England and Wales and will come into effect two months after it receives Royal Assent.

Government Spending

The bill itself does not directly specify any associated government spending. However, the implementation of remote hearings may lead to cost savings in the long term by reducing travel costs for participants and potentially increasing efficiency in court proceedings. Conversely, there may be costs associated with upgrading technology and training staff to facilitate remote hearings.

Groups Affected

Groups potentially affected include:

• Individuals involved in civil and family court cases: They will have the option of participating remotely, potentially improving access to justice for those with mobility issues or those located far from the court.
• Court staff: They will need to adapt to the new procedures and potentially receive training on the use of technology.
• Lawyers: They will need to adapt their practices to accommodate remote hearings.
• Police: Their procedures regarding arrests and bringing individuals before the court will be affected.

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