The Legal Services Commission (LSC) and Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) have published plans to deal with the expected higher incidence of crime during the Olympic games. These include less onerous evidence provision requirements for means testing, and contingency plans in the event of large scale disorder.
Some of you may have seen reports on Tuesday 26 June in the Guardian and the Times on preparations the CPS has made for the Olympics. These reports were misleading insofar as they suggested that extended court hours will automatically apply during the Games. Our understanding is that any extended court hours would only be implemented in the event of large scale disorder.
The LSC has confirmed that most London courts will operate normally during the Olympic period with reduced services for those courts close to Olympic venues.
We understand that the CPS and courts intend to prioritise, or fast-track, offences involving participants at the Games, be they members of teams, spectators, or offences that occur at Olympic venues. This is on the basis that it is likely that the victim, witness or defendant will be from outside the jurisdiction; or that the offence is Games-related, such as ticket touting. This would not involve extended hours of the overnight type, or daytime extensions, we understand. It will more likely involve the use of video technology, or 'virtual courts', as have been used for some time now, to avoid transport difficulties.
Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS) Olympic planning group is considering contingency plans in the event that crime levels are higher than expected. Both the Legal Services Commission and defence solicitor representatives are members of this group.
The LSC has published proposals to make the requirements for the provision of evidence less onerous for means testing for cases identified as 'Olympic-related' offences.
Read the LSC's proposals
The CPS has also drawn up contingency plans to provide to staff in the event that extended court hours become necessary in the event of large scale disorder or crime occurring. Members of the London Criminal Courts Solicitors Association have been involved in discussions with the HMCTS and the CPS about these plans, and they understand that such extended hours will only be used in an extreme, riot-type, situation.
The expectation is that courts may be sitting for shorter hours than usual due to traffic disruption. There are plans to take anyone arrested to police stations outside the immediate environs of the Olympics venues, and they will be trying to handle Olympic-related offences as quickly as possible so as to avoid having people from abroad getting lost in the system for an indefinite period.
The Society is also aware that the government is looking more widely at the question of flexible court hours. We are seeking to engage with government about this.
The CPS has produced a briefing note and guidance on court sitting arrangements during the Olympics.
Read the CPS briefing note and guidance (PDF)