Government urged to exclude young people from virtual court proposals

Speaking in the House of Lords last week, Labour peer Lord Beecham asked whether the government has plans for young people to appear in virtual courts via video technology.

Justice minister Lord McNally confirmed that while young defendants are currently excluded from appearing in court in this way, the use of video links was under review as part of a pilot scheme to make courts more flexible.

He added: “The use of video will be reviewed as part of the flexible criminal justice service pilots under way across England and Wales and as part of the planned expansion in the use of video links between courts, police stations and prisons.”

But John Bache, chair of the Magistrates’ Association’s youth courts committee, said the move would destroy the important personal link a magistrate develops with a young person appearing in court.

He said: “We are very much against having youths appear by video link. What that does is negate the link between the magistrate and the young person.

“That direct engagement is vital so that the magistrate can better understand that young person and talk with them face to face. That is lost by a video link.”