Guidance

HMCTS weekly update

A weekly summary of the latest HM Courts and Tribunals Service operational position for users. We aim to update this every Friday at 4pm.

During March 2024, we will be emailing our ‘HMCTS Update’ to our subscribers on Friday afternoons, while we pilot a new publishing time.

From Friday 5 April, this update will be shared via email only and this page will no longer continue to be updated with the latest information. You can subscribe to receive our email alerts.

Follow us on X (formerly Twitter) to check for daily or urgent updates.

HMCTS Update for week commencing Monday 18 March 2024

Next week’s update will be published on Friday 22 March 2024.

General

MyHMCTS launched in Welsh

MyHMCTS now offers support for the Welsh language. This update allows easy switching between English and Welsh, enhancing accessibility for all professional users.

Courts and tribunals opening times over Easter 2024

Our courts and tribunals will temporarily close over the Easter period, from Friday 29 March to Monday 1 April 2024. They will reopen on Tuesday 2 April 2024.

Some magistrates’ courts will be open on Saturday 30 March and Monday 1 April 2024, but for remand hearings only.

Monthly management information

We’ve published our latest monthly management information for January 2023 to January 2024. It highlights workload volumes and timeliness at a national level.

This month’s edition also includes data on sitting days sat so far this financial year, and more detailed information relating to the probate service.

Medway County and Family Court update

On Tuesday 2 April 2024, four temporary hearing rooms will open at the Orida Hotel in Maidstone to hear cases from Medway County and Family Court.

The court at Gun Wharf is currently closed while work is undertaken to remove Reinforced Autoclaved Aerated Concrete from the building.

March monthly bulletin

Our March bulletin highlights the latest information about our Reform Programme, the Lord Chancellor’s visit to the new court and tribunal building in Leeds, an update on Nightingale Courts and more.

Crime

Inside the Criminal Courts

In the final ‘Inside the Criminal Courts’ campaign video , Nuwan, one of our legal advisers shares an insight into his role.

Legal advisers must remain impartial during court hearings. They provide legal advice to the magistrates and sometimes need to explain procedures to defendants if they are unrepresented. 

Reminder: Oxford Crown Court open day

Oxford Crown Court will be hosting an open day on Saturday 23 March 2024 from 10am to 2pm. Visitors will be able to speak with court staff and judges, visit the holding cells, explore a prison van, join a mock trial and much more.

Sign up to the open day

Contact information for magistrates’ courts in the North and South West

The contact information has changed for the following magistrates’ courts:

Devon, Cornwall and Dorset

  • Barnstaple Magistrates’ Court
  • Bodmin Magistrates’ Court
  • Exeter Magistrates’ Court
  • Newton Abbot Magistrates’ Court
  • Plymouth Magistrates’ Court
  • Poole Magistrates’ Court
  • Truro Magistrates’ Court
  • Weymouth Magistrates’ Court

Cheshire and Merseyside

  • Chester Magistrates’ Court
  • Crewe Magistrates’ Court
  • Liverpool and Knowsley Magistrates’ Court
  • Sefton Magistrates’ Court
  • Warrington Magistrates’ Court
  • Wirral Magistrates’ Court

Users should now contact our service centre on 0330 808 4407 instead of contacting the courts directly.

Previous editions

Published 21 May 2021
Last updated 15 March 2024 + show all updates
  1. This page has been updated to reflect the most current news.

  2. This page has been updated to reflect the latest news and information.

  3. Updated for week commencing 4 March 2024.

  4. This page has been updated to reflect the most recent information.

  5. This page has been updated to reflect the most current information.

  6. This page has been updated to reflect the most current information.

  7. This page has been updated to reflect the most current news.

  8. This page has been updated to reflect the most current updates and news.

  9. This page has been updated to reflect the most recent updates.

  10. This page has been updated to reflect the most recent HMCTS Update.

  11. We have updated the page with the latest HMCTS Update.

  12. Updated

  13. Updated W/C 18 December

  14. Update for week commencing Monday 11 December published.

  15. New edition added for week commencing Monday 4 December 2023

  16. Update for week commencing Monday 27 November published.

  17. Update for week commencing Monday 20 November published.

  18. Update for week commencing Monday 13 November published.

  19. Update for week commencing Monday 6 November 2023 published.

  20. Update for w/c 30 Oct 2023 published.

  21. Update for week commencing Monday 23 October published.

  22. Update for week commencing Monday 16 October published.

  23. Update for week commencing Monday 9 October 2023 published.

  24. Weekly updated for w/c 2 October 2023 added.

  25. Update for week commencing Monday 25 September published.

  26. Update for week commencing Monday 18 September published.

  27. Updated for week commencing Monday 11 September.

  28. Update for week commencing Monday 4 September published.

  29. Update for week commencing Monday 28 August published,

  30. Updated for week commencing 21 August 2023

  31. Updated for week commencing Monday 14 August 2023

  32. Updated for week commencing 7 August 2023

  33. Updated for week commencing 31 July 2023

  34. Updated for week commencing 24 July 2023

  35. Update for week commencing Monday 17 July published.

  36. Update for week commencing Monday 10 July 2023 published.

  37. Updated for week commencing 3 July 2023

  38. Updated for week commencing 26 June 2023

  39. Updated for week commencing 19 June 2023

  40. Updated for week commencing Monday 12 June 2023

  41. Updated for Week Commencing 5 June 2023

  42. Updated for week beginning Monday 29 May 2023.

  43. Updated for week beginning Monday 22 May 2023.

  44. Updated for week beginning Monday 15 May 2023.

  45. Updated for week beginning Monday 1 May 2023.

  46. Updated for week commencing Monday 24 April 2023

  47. Updated for week beginning 17 April 2023.

  48. Updated for week commencing Monday 10 April 2023.

  49. Updated for week beginning Monday 3 April 2023.

  50. Updated for week commencing Monday 27 March 2023

  51. Updated for week beginning 20 March 2023.

  52. Updated for week beginning Monday 13 March 2023.

  53. Updated for week commencing Monday 6 March 2023.

  54. HMCTS Update week commencing 27 Feb 2023 added.

  55. Updated for week beginning 20 February 2023.

  56. Updated for week beginning Monday 13 February 2023.

  57. Updated for week beginning 6 February 2023.

  58. Update for week commencing Monday 30 January published.

  59. Update for week commencing Monday 23 January published.

  60. Update for week commencing Monday 16 January 2023 published.

  61. Update for week commencing Monday 9 January 2023 published.

  62. Update for week commencing Monday 2 January 2023 published.

  63. Added translation

  64. Update for week commencing Monday 19 December 2022 published.

  65. Updated for week beginning 12 December 2022.

  66. Update for week commencing Monday 5 December 2022 published.

  67. Update for week commencing Monday 28 November 2022 published.

  68. Added translation

  69. Update for week commencing Monday 21 November 2022 published.

  70. Update for week commencing Monday 14 November published.

  71. Update for week commencing Monday 7 November published.

  72. Added translation

  73. Update for week commencing Monday 31 October 2022 published.

  74. Added translation

  75. Added translation

  76. Update for week commencing Monday 24 October published.

  77. Updated for week commencing 17 October.

  78. Added translation

  79. Updated for week commencing Monday 10 October 2022.

  80. Updated for week commencing Monday 3 October 2022.

  81. Updated for week commencing Monday 26 September 2022.

  82. Added translation

  83. Update for week commencing Monday 5 September 2022 published.

  84. Update for week commencing Monday 29 August 2022 published.

  85. Update for week commencing Monday 22 August 2022 published.

  86. Update for week commencing Monday 15 August 2022 published.

  87. Added translation

  88. Update for week commencing Monday 8 August 2022 published.

  89. Update for week commencing Monday 1 August 2022 published.

  90. Update for week commencing Monday 25 July 2022 published.

  91. Update for week commencing Monday 18 July 2022 published.

  92. Added translation

  93. Update for week commencing Monday 11 July 2022 published.

  94. Updated for week commencing Monday 4 July.

  95. Update for week commencing Monday 27 June 2022 published.

  96. Operational update on bar action added.

  97. Update for week commencing Monday 20 June 2022 published.

  98. Update for week commencing Monday 13 June 2022.

  99. Update for week commencing Monday 6 June 2022 published.

  100. Update for week commencing Monday 30 May 2022 published.

  101. Update for week commencing Monday 23 May 2022 published.

  102. Added translation

  103. Update for week commencing Monday 16 May 2022 published.

  104. Update for week commencing Monday 9 May 2022 published.

  105. Update for week commencing Monday 2 May 2022.

  106. Added translation

  107. Update for week commencing Monday 25 April 2022 published.

  108. Added translation

  109. Update for week commencing Monday 18 April 2022 published.

  110. Update for week commencing Monday 11 April 2022 published.

  111. Added translation

  112. Update for week commencing Monday 4 April 2022 published.

  113. Added translation

  114. Update for week commencing Monday 28 March 2022 published.

  115. Added translation

  116. Update on Common Platform added.

  117. Update for week commencing Monday 21 March 2022 published.

  118. Added translation

  119. Update for week commencing Monday 14 March 2022 published.

  120. Added translation

  121. Added translation

  122. Update for week commencing Monday 7 March 2022 published.

  123. Added translation

  124. Update for week commencing Monday 28 February 2022 published.

  125. Added translation

  126. Update for week commencing Monday 21 February 2022 published.

  127. Added translation

  128. Update for week commencing Monday 14 February 2022 published.

  129. Added translation

  130. Update for week commencing Monday 7 February 2022 published.

  131. Update for week commencing Monday 31 January 2022 published.

  132. Added translation

  133. Update for week commencing Monday 24 January 2022 published.

  134. Added translation

  135. Update for week commencing Monday 17 January 2022 published.

  136. Update for week commencing Monday 10 January 2022 published.

  137. Added translation

  138. Update for week commencing Monday 3 January 2022 published.

  139. Update for week commencing Monday 20 December 2021 published.

  140. Added translation

  141. Update for week commencing Monday 13 December 2021 published.

  142. Update for week commencing Monday 6 December 2021 published.

  143. Added translation

  144. Update for week commencing Monday 29 November published.

  145. Added translation

  146. Update for week commencing Monday 22 November 2021 published.

  147. Added translation

  148. Update for week commencing Monday 15 November published.

  149. Page updated with changes to HMCTS operations for week commencing 8 Nov 2021.

  150. Update for week commencing Monday 1 November 2021 published.

  151. Added translation

  152. Update for week commencing Monday 25 October published.

  153. Update for week commencing Monday 18 October 2021 published.

  154. Added translation

  155. Update for week commencing Monday 11 October 2021 published.

  156. Update for week commencing Monday 4 October 2021 published.

  157. Added translation

  158. Update for week commencing Monday 27 September published.

  159. Added translation

  160. Update for week commencing Monday 20 September 2021 published.

  161. Added translation

  162. Update for week commencing Monday 13 September published.

  163. Update for week commencing Monday 6 September 2021 published.

  164. Added translation

  165. Update for week commencing Monday 30 August 2021 published.

  166. Added translation

  167. Updated for week commencing Monday 23 August 2021.

  168. Welsh translation added.

  169. Update for week commencing Monday 16 August 2021 published.

  170. Added translation

  171. Update for week commencing Monday 9 August 2021 published.

  172. Added translation

  173. Update for week commencing Monday 2 August 2021 published.

  174. Added translation

  175. Update for week commencing Monday 26 July 2021 published.

  176. Added translation

  177. Updated COVID guidance pages added.

  178. Update for week commencing Monday 19 July 2021 published.

  179. Added translation

  180. Update for week commencing Monday 12 July published.

  181. Added translation

  182. Update for week commencing Monday 5 July 2021.

  183. Added translation

  184. Update for week commencing Monday 28 June 2021 published.

  185. Added translation

  186. Update for week commencing Monday 21 June 2021 published.

  187. Added translation

  188. Update for week commencing Monday 14 June 2021 published.

  189. Added translation

  190. Update for week commencing Monday 7 June 2021 published.

  191. Update for week commencing Monday 31 May 2021 published.

  192. Added translation

  193. Added line on operational status of courts in areas where COVID19 variant is spreading.

  194. First published.