Trials delayed as IT meltdown leaves law courts in ‘chaos’

A massive meltdown in the courts service’s main computer network has resulted in disruptions to thousands of legal cases across England and Wales, according to reports.

The computer failures began last week and are a “significant embarrassment for the Ministry of Justice”, which is investing £1.2bn in a modernisation programme promoting online hearings in a bid to end “the legal profession’s traditional reliance on mountains of paperwork”, The Guardian says.

Trials have been adjourned and delayed as a result of the crashes, which could even mean some criminals go free, The Times says.

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According to the newspaper, lawyers have warned that the ongoing issues could see defendants “detained longer than was lawful - with the risk that they would have to be released before they had been tried”.

Susan Acland-Hood, head of HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), yesterday tweeted her thanks to “staff, professional users & others who’ve worked so hard to keep courts working through the problems”.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement apologising for the disruption and announcing that “urgent work” carried out on Tuesday had led to “significant improvements” in the functioning of the IT network.

“While services have continued to operate and alternative network access is now in place for most, we know how frustrating this is for anyone affected and we are disappointed that our suppliers haven't yet been able to resolve the network problems in full,” the statement said.

Richard Atkins QC, chair of the Bar Council, called for “investment in the basics” to avoid having “a justice system that comes to a shuddering halt the moment the IT does not work properly”.

Chris Henley QC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association (CBA), blamed “savage cuts to the MoJ budget” for the disruptions to Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), reports The Independent.

“The system is on its knees. Legal professionals, judges and court staff have to deal with the mess and it is witnesses, defendants, and their families, and jurors, who [suffer] the consequences. Short-term savings often result in wider costs to the public purse,” Henley added.