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
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