Guidance

HMCTS weekly update

A weekly summary of the latest HM Courts and Tribunals Service operational position for users. We aim to update this every Friday at 4pm.

During March 2024, we will be emailing our ‘HMCTS Update’ to our subscribers on Friday afternoons, while we pilot a new publishing time.

From Friday 5 April, this update will be shared via email only and this page will no longer continue to be updated with the latest information. You can subscribe to receive our email alerts.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to check for daily or urgent updates.

HMCTS Update for Friday 22 March 2024

Next week’s update will be published on Thursday 28 March 2024. This edition will be our final weekly update on GOV.UK before moving to an email only service.

General

Courts and tribunals opening times over Easter 2024

Our courts and tribunals will temporarily close over the Easter period, from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April 2024. They will reopen on Tuesday 2 April 2024.

Some magistrates’ courts will be open on Saturday 30 March and Monday 1 April 2024, but for remand hearings only.

Supporting local children

Over 200 children recently attended Cardiff Magistrates’ Court to experience a real-life court environment as part of their studies.

Working alongside the National Justice Museum, HMCTS has been accommodating school visits to educate children about the justice system and how it functions.

Strategic Engagement Group Chair’s summary

In the notes of the latest Strategic Engagement Group meeting with legal professional associations, you can find updates on our Reform Programme priorities, as well as high-level project summaries,

The summary includes updates on the Video Hearings Service and integrating mediation for small claims into the court process.

Crime

Reminder: Oxford Crown Court open day

Oxford Crown Court will host an open day tomorrow (23 March 2024) from 10am to 2pm. Visitors will be able to speak with court staff and judges, visit the holding cells, explore a prison van, join a mock trial and much more.

You can further more details about the court using Find a Court and Tribunal and register for a place at the open day.

Join a pre-recorded evidence webinar for advocates

HMCTS is developing its own in-house technology to support the delivery of Section 28 of the Youth and Criminal Justice Act pre-recorded evidence (PRE) special measure. The new technology will be phased into all Crown Courts from autumn 2024.

You can register for the interactive webinar for advocates where you can learn more about the technology you’ll use to access the recordings.

There will be a demonstration of PRE, the new functionality and its benefits and a live Q&A session where you can ask questions about using the new system.

Improvements to Preparation for Effective Trial and Better Case Management forms

We’ve made some improvements to these forms in response to feedback from defence professionals. We’ve emailed details to all defence users of Common Platform.

We plan to make further improvements in May 2024 and will share more details nearer the time.

You can read our guidance on using the forms for further information.

Previous editions

Published 21 May 2021
Last updated 22 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. This page has been updated to reflect the most current information.

  2. This page has been updated to reflect the most current news.

  3. This page has been updated to reflect the latest news and information.

  4. Updated for week commencing 4 March 2024.

  5. This page has been updated to reflect the most recent information.

  6. This page has been updated to reflect the most current information.

  7. This page has been updated to reflect the most current information.

  8. This page has been updated to reflect the most current news.

  9. This page has been updated to reflect the most current updates and news.

  10. This page has been updated to reflect the most recent updates.

  11. This page has been updated to reflect the most recent HMCTS Update.

  12. We have updated the page with the latest HMCTS Update.

  13. Updated

  14. Updated W/C 18 December

  15. Update for week commencing Monday 11 December published.

  16. New edition added for week commencing Monday 4 December 2023

  17. Update for week commencing Monday 27 November published.

  18. Update for week commencing Monday 20 November published.

  19. Update for week commencing Monday 13 November published.

  20. Update for week commencing Monday 6 November 2023 published.

  21. Update for w/c 30 Oct 2023 published.

  22. Update for week commencing Monday 23 October published.

  23. Update for week commencing Monday 16 October published.

  24. Update for week commencing Monday 9 October 2023 published.

  25. Weekly updated for w/c 2 October 2023 added.

  26. Update for week commencing Monday 25 September published.

  27. Update for week commencing Monday 18 September published.

  28. Updated for week commencing Monday 11 September.

  29. Update for week commencing Monday 4 September published.

  30. Update for week commencing Monday 28 August published,

  31. Updated for week commencing 21 August 2023

  32. Updated for week commencing Monday 14 August 2023

  33. Updated for week commencing 7 August 2023

  34. Updated for week commencing 31 July 2023

  35. Updated for week commencing 24 July 2023

  36. Update for week commencing Monday 17 July published.

  37. Update for week commencing Monday 10 July 2023 published.

  38. Updated for week commencing 3 July 2023

  39. Updated for week commencing 26 June 2023

  40. Updated for week commencing 19 June 2023

  41. Updated for week commencing Monday 12 June 2023

  42. Updated for Week Commencing 5 June 2023

  43. Updated for week beginning Monday 29 May 2023.

  44. Updated for week beginning Monday 22 May 2023.

  45. Updated for week beginning Monday 15 May 2023.

  46. Updated for week beginning Monday 1 May 2023.

  47. Updated for week commencing Monday 24 April 2023

  48. Updated for week beginning 17 April 2023.

  49. Updated for week commencing Monday 10 April 2023.

  50. Updated for week beginning Monday 3 April 2023.

  51. Updated for week commencing Monday 27 March 2023

  52. Updated for week beginning 20 March 2023.

  53. Updated for week beginning Monday 13 March 2023.

  54. Updated for week commencing Monday 6 March 2023.

  55. HMCTS Update week commencing 27 Feb 2023 added.

  56. Updated for week beginning 20 February 2023.

  57. Updated for week beginning Monday 13 February 2023.

  58. Updated for week beginning 6 February 2023.

  59. Update for week commencing Monday 30 January published.

  60. Update for week commencing Monday 23 January published.

  61. Update for week commencing Monday 16 January 2023 published.

  62. Update for week commencing Monday 9 January 2023 published.

  63. Update for week commencing Monday 2 January 2023 published.

  64. Added translation

  65. Update for week commencing Monday 19 December 2022 published.

  66. Updated for week beginning 12 December 2022.

  67. Update for week commencing Monday 5 December 2022 published.

  68. Update for week commencing Monday 28 November 2022 published.

  69. Added translation

  70. Update for week commencing Monday 21 November 2022 published.

  71. Update for week commencing Monday 14 November published.

  72. Update for week commencing Monday 7 November published.

  73. Added translation

  74. Update for week commencing Monday 31 October 2022 published.

  75. Added translation

  76. Added translation

  77. Update for week commencing Monday 24 October published.

  78. Updated for week commencing 17 October.

  79. Added translation

  80. Updated for week commencing Monday 10 October 2022.

  81. Updated for week commencing Monday 3 October 2022.

  82. Updated for week commencing Monday 26 September 2022.

  83. Added translation

  84. Update for week commencing Monday 5 September 2022 published.

  85. Update for week commencing Monday 29 August 2022 published.

  86. Update for week commencing Monday 22 August 2022 published.

  87. Update for week commencing Monday 15 August 2022 published.

  88. Added translation

  89. Update for week commencing Monday 8 August 2022 published.

  90. Update for week commencing Monday 1 August 2022 published.

  91. Update for week commencing Monday 25 July 2022 published.

  92. Update for week commencing Monday 18 July 2022 published.

  93. Added translation

  94. Update for week commencing Monday 11 July 2022 published.

  95. Updated for week commencing Monday 4 July.

  96. Update for week commencing Monday 27 June 2022 published.

  97. Operational update on bar action added.

  98. Update for week commencing Monday 20 June 2022 published.

  99. Update for week commencing Monday 13 June 2022.

  100. Update for week commencing Monday 6 June 2022 published.

  101. Update for week commencing Monday 30 May 2022 published.

  102. Update for week commencing Monday 23 May 2022 published.

  103. Added translation

  104. Update for week commencing Monday 16 May 2022 published.

  105. Update for week commencing Monday 9 May 2022 published.

  106. Update for week commencing Monday 2 May 2022.

  107. Added translation

  108. Update for week commencing Monday 25 April 2022 published.

  109. Added translation

  110. Update for week commencing Monday 18 April 2022 published.

  111. Update for week commencing Monday 11 April 2022 published.

  112. Added translation

  113. Update for week commencing Monday 4 April 2022 published.

  114. Added translation

  115. Update for week commencing Monday 28 March 2022 published.

  116. Added translation

  117. Update on Common Platform added.

  118. Update for week commencing Monday 21 March 2022 published.

  119. Added translation

  120. Update for week commencing Monday 14 March 2022 published.

  121. Added translation

  122. Added translation

  123. Update for week commencing Monday 7 March 2022 published.

  124. Added translation

  125. Update for week commencing Monday 28 February 2022 published.

  126. Added translation

  127. Update for week commencing Monday 21 February 2022 published.

  128. Added translation

  129. Update for week commencing Monday 14 February 2022 published.

  130. Added translation

  131. Update for week commencing Monday 7 February 2022 published.

  132. Update for week commencing Monday 31 January 2022 published.

  133. Added translation

  134. Update for week commencing Monday 24 January 2022 published.

  135. Added translation

  136. Update for week commencing Monday 17 January 2022 published.

  137. Update for week commencing Monday 10 January 2022 published.

  138. Added translation

  139. Update for week commencing Monday 3 January 2022 published.

  140. Update for week commencing Monday 20 December 2021 published.

  141. Added translation

  142. Update for week commencing Monday 13 December 2021 published.

  143. Update for week commencing Monday 6 December 2021 published.

  144. Added translation

  145. Update for week commencing Monday 29 November published.

  146. Added translation

  147. Update for week commencing Monday 22 November 2021 published.

  148. Added translation

  149. Update for week commencing Monday 15 November published.

  150. Page updated with changes to HMCTS operations for week commencing 8 Nov 2021.

  151. Update for week commencing Monday 1 November 2021 published.

  152. Added translation

  153. Update for week commencing Monday 25 October published.

  154. Update for week commencing Monday 18 October 2021 published.

  155. Added translation

  156. Update for week commencing Monday 11 October 2021 published.

  157. Update for week commencing Monday 4 October 2021 published.

  158. Added translation

  159. Update for week commencing Monday 27 September published.

  160. Added translation

  161. Update for week commencing Monday 20 September 2021 published.

  162. Added translation

  163. Update for week commencing Monday 13 September published.

  164. Update for week commencing Monday 6 September 2021 published.

  165. Added translation

  166. Update for week commencing Monday 30 August 2021 published.

  167. Added translation

  168. Updated for week commencing Monday 23 August 2021.

  169. Welsh translation added.

  170. Update for week commencing Monday 16 August 2021 published.

  171. Added translation

  172. Update for week commencing Monday 9 August 2021 published.

  173. Added translation

  174. Update for week commencing Monday 2 August 2021 published.

  175. Added translation

  176. Update for week commencing Monday 26 July 2021 published.

  177. Added translation

  178. Updated COVID guidance pages added.

  179. Update for week commencing Monday 19 July 2021 published.

  180. Added translation

  181. Update for week commencing Monday 12 July published.

  182. Added translation

  183. Update for week commencing Monday 5 July 2021.

  184. Added translation

  185. Update for week commencing Monday 28 June 2021 published.

  186. Added translation

  187. Update for week commencing Monday 21 June 2021 published.

  188. Added translation

  189. Update for week commencing Monday 14 June 2021 published.

  190. Added translation

  191. Update for week commencing Monday 7 June 2021 published.

  192. Update for week commencing Monday 31 May 2021 published.

  193. Added translation

  194. Added line on operational status of courts in areas where COVID19 variant is spreading.

  195. First published.