What's New
16 January 2007
Information for Victims and Witnesses
Detailed information for victims and witnesses giving evidence in court cases in the Crown Court, magistrates' courts and youth courts has been added to the website. For details visit our Being a Witness page.
11 December 2006
Christmas Closures 2006
Non-Executive Members sought for HMCS Board
HMCS is seeking to appoint non-executive members to sit on the HMCS Board for an initial period of three years beginning in April 2007. One member will chair the Audit Committee. For details see our vacancies page
23 October 2006
Links to Court Forms
Customers have been experiencing difficulties linking to our forms database from pages across our website. This is a technical problem which is in the process of being resolved. Forms can be obtained via our FormFinder page. Forms can be located either by entering the form number required or using the advanced FormFinder feature to locate forms by work type.
23 October 2006
North Somerset Magistrates' Court Open Day - Saturday 18th November 2006
North Somerset Magistrates' Court, The Hedges, St Georges, Weston-Super-Mare, BS22 7BB will be opening its doors to the public on Saturday 18th November 2006 from 10.00am until 3.30pm.
The theme of the day is focusing on Sentencing is Tougher than You Think and two different mock trials will run through out the day, an Adult sentencing and a Youth sentencing. There will also be demonstrations of the work carried out by Probation and Youth Offending Teams.
Other stands include:
- HMCS Fines and Enforcement
- The Prison Service's mobile prison cell and a stand showing the rehabilitation of those sentenced,
- The Witness Service & Victims Support demonstrating the Special Measures Equipment in the courtroom
In addition there will be:
- Viper ID
- Weston Police Community Safety unit
- A Police Car and Prison Van
- Visits to the Cells
- Safety Camera Unit
- A quiz
- Weston Police will be taking finger prints
11 August 2006
Updated Domestic Violence Policy Documents
The domestic violence policy information available on the DCA website has been updated. New versions of documents and forms are now available.
11 August 2006
Lewes Crown & County Court Open Day - 9th September 2006
25 July 2006
HMCS Annual Report & Accounts 2005/2006
HMCS has today published its Annual Report & Accounts for 2005/06. You can read the full report on this website.
21 June 2006
Victims Advocates Scheme
The Victims Advocates Scheme is being piloted at 5 Crown Court sites from April 2006. Information about the scheme and a full list of advocates is available.
23 May 2006
HMCS National Business Plan
The HMCS National Business Plan is published today, setting out the organisation's targets for 2006/7. The plan is published in the context of the HMCS Business Strategy (PDF 250Kb) published in February 2006 which starts to prepare HMCS for its long-term future. The business plan sets out the first year of our programme to deliver the business strategy, a programme which will evolve over the next five years.
23 May 2006
Launch of HMCS Film Unit Website
The Marketing Team today launches its Film Unit pages: www.filmingincourts.gov.uk. Almost all Crown, County, Magistrates' and Coroner's courts are available for commercial filming outside normal operating hours. Images of courts and booking procedures can be found on the new site.
10 May 2006
A model for the provision of Justices' Clerks in England and Wales consultation document published.
This consultation document is concerned with the setting of a consistent approach to the provision of Justices' Clerk positions and the positioning of such posts within the structures of HMCS.
12 April 2006
InterCOMM goes live at the Admiralty and Commercial Courts
The Admiralty and Commercial Courts have had a new IT system installed called 'interCOMM' which has replaced the previous system known as 'Anchor'. more...
06 April 2006
Changes to Court Fees
On 6th April 2006 changes to the following Fees Orders came into force:
- The Family Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2006
- The Civil Proceedings Fees (Amendment) Order 2006
- The Magistrates' Courts Fees (Amendment) Order 2006
For general fee enquires please contact the Customer Service Unit on 020 7189 2000.
28 March 2006
HMCS National Awards Ceremony
24 March 2006
First Amendment to Criminal Procedure Rules 2005
The first amendment to the Criminal Procedure Rules will come into force on 3 April 2006. Details of the changes can be found on the DCA Internet. Background to the rules is also available together with information on the work of the Rule Committee.
17 March 2006
New Civil Procedure Rules and The Register of Judgments, Orders and Fines Regulations 2005 - form and leaflet changes
13 March 2006
Croydon Courts Open Day Saturday 20 May 2006
07 March 2006
Judgment B-v-L (Strasbourg)
06 March 2006
20 March 2006
Court of Appeal, Civil Division - Attending the Court
The Court of Appeal, Civil Division has added a section on their page entitled 'Attending the Court' to assist court users when attending court or visiting the Civil Appeals office. It contains a virtual tour of a typical courtroom, with a brief explanation of the roles of those who might be in attendance at a hearing. It also contains maps on how to find the:
- Royal Courts of Justice;- the courts; and
- Civil Appeals Office public counters.
28 February 2006
Good Practice Guidance for Court Cancellations in the Magistrates' Court
20 February 2006
Disclosure: A Protocol for the Control and Management of Unused Material in the Crown Court
The judiciary has drawn up a new protocol on the disclosure of unused material in Crown Court criminal trials in England and Wales.
The protocol is designed to establish firm principles for the management of disclosure, whether by the prosecution or the defence, in order to improve the efficient delivery of justice and thereby enhance public confidence in the criminal justice system. The protocol will be effective from its date of publication (20 February 2006). A short outline note is also available.
17 February 2006
HMCS Business Strategy
Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS) today published its Business Strategy setting out the direction of travel towards creating a court service that is modern, efficient and fit for the 21st century. The document is available on the Policy & Strategy page.
13 February 2006
HMCS Board Meeting - 17 Feb '06
08 February 2006
Notice to all Commercial and Admiralty Court users
06 February 2006
Listing Calendar for Civil Appeals
27 January 2006
Management of terrorism cases Protocol