HMCTS Milestone 4 activity Panel discussion Will Breame

HMCTS Milestone 4 activity Panel discussion Will Breame, HMCTS Deputy Director, Central Operations 1 January 22

Current situation England Restrictions in England were eased on 19 July: • • Social distancing was removed, but recommendation to avoid close contact remains The requirement in law to wear facemasks was lifted Restrictions on meeting large groups of people were lifted Instructions to work from home where possible were lifted Wales moved to Level 1 restrictions on 17 July: • Limits on the number of people mixing outdoors were lifted • Face coverings remain a legal requirement indoors Scotland moved to Level 0 on 19 July: • • 1 m social distancing in indoor public places remains Face coverings remain a legal requirement indoors Restrictions on meeting large groups of people were lifted Instructions to work from home where possible were lifted 2

Court safety measures • Certain parts of our estate will open up to increase capacity. • Social distancing will remain in custody suites alongside touchpoint cleaning, locked down phones, reduced numbers and fluid-resistant surgical masks (FRSMs). • Face coverings will be required in our staff, public and communal parts of our buildings and some smaller rooms (unless someone is exempt) • Jurors will continue to wear fluid resistant surgical masks in smaller juror deliberation rooms • Enhanced cleaning and hand sanitizer stations will remain • Screens will continue to be used in our smaller rooms (predominantly jury deliberation rooms). 3

Increasing court capacity • Reopen around 60 rooms for Crown Court work across our estate • Increasing listing • Extending 32 Nightingale courtrooms until March 2022 • No limit on sitting days 4

How you can help • Don’t come into court if you test positive or have symptoms • Don’t come into court if you’re self-isolating • Please wear your mask in our buildings unless you’re exempt • Avoid close contact with people where you can • Wash your hands regularly and use the hand sanitizers in our buildings • Let us know if you have any concerns – the existing escalation route will stay in place 5