A multi-million pound plan to bring 500 courts in England and Wales into the digital era is being detailed by ministers, reports dailymail.co.uk.
A ‘full digital makeover’ has been announced by justice minister Damian Green, which includes installing Wi-Fi in nearly all of England and Wales’ 500 courtrooms.
Furthermore, the digital revamp will see digital evidence screens installed so the defence and prosecution can present evidence digitally rather than rely on paper copies, adds gov.uk.
New funding for IT will also be made available to ‘increase digital workings’ and reduce the use of paper in the system by the police and court system.
Police officers will be given mobile devices to allow them to access real-time intelligence and local information, with a view to ‘building case files from the street’.
Green commented on the plan: “Every year the courts and Crown Prosecution Service use roughly 160 million sheets of paper. Stacked up this would be the same as fifteen Mount Snowdon’s – literally mountains of paper. If we are to win in the global race this must change; it is time we move the court system into the 21st century.
“This investment will help us get rid of our outdated paper-based system, and turn our criminal justice system into a digital and modern public service,” he added.
