This is an HTML version of an attachment to the Freedom of Information request 'Recording of remote and hybrid court hearings'.



Disclosure Team 
Ministry of Justice 
102 Petty France  
London 
 
 
SW1H 9AJ 
 
 
Paul Magrath 
xxxx.xxxxxx@xxxxxxx.xxx.xx 
xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx.xxx 
 
8 September 2020 
Dear Mr Magrath 
 
Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) Request – 200824007 (IR of 200730004) 
 
Thank you for your request dated 24 August July 2020 for an Internal Review of FOI 
200730004 in which you asked for the following information from the Ministry of Justice 
(MoJ):   
 
I am writing to request information about the recording of remote and hybrid court 
hearings. The request is made under the Freedom of Information Act 2000. 
 

1.  Whether any statistical record is routinely kept of the the number of remote 
hearings that have taken place using a. Teleconferencing b. Videoconferencing 
 

2.  How many remote hearings have taken place during the months of April, May 
and June 2020 in a. County Courts (including the Family Court) b. The High 
Court (all divisions) c. The Court of Appeal (both divisions)  

 
3.  Are remote hearings in all these courts routinely recorded?  
 
4.  How are recordings of remote hearings managed and stored? 
 
5.  How are recordings of videoconference hearings transcribed?  
 
6.  What approach is taken to the recording of hybrid hearings, ie partly remote, 
partly in person/court? 
 
Your request is being handled under the FOIA. 
 
A review is currently being conducted and a response will be issued to you in due course.  
 
The MoJ aims to provide you with a response within 20 working days, in accordance with the 
Information Commissioner’s Office’s recommendation.  
 
However, in view of the current public health situation, and its possible effect on resources 
and priorities, we may not be able to reply to you by this date; if this will be the case we will 
write to you nearer the time with an update. 
 

If you have any queries regarding this Internal Review please do not hesitate to contact the 
above address quoting the reference number 200824007 in all correspondence. 
 
Yours sincerely  
 
K Smith 
 
K Smith 
Knowledge and Information Liaison Officer 
North East Region