Guidance

HMCTS weekly operational summary

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

• From: HM Courts & Tribunals Service
• Published: 21 May 2021
• Last updated: 17 March 2023 — See all updates

We email our ‘HMCTS Update’ to our subscribers on Sunday evenings. Subscribe to receive our email alerts. 

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HMCTS operational summary for week commencing Monday 20 March 2023

The next weekly operational summary will be issued on Friday 24 March 2023.

Crime

Sentencing guidelines

• Reminder: Following a consultation, the Sentencing Council has published a list of amendments to sentencing guidelines. This is in response to recent changes in legislation and feedback from users. The changes apply to magistrates’ and Crown courts and will come into effect on 1 April 2023.

Common Platform

• Reminder: It’s now easier for defence professionals to access case details on Common Platform. For most cases, you do not need to enter the unique reference number (URN) if you have the defendant’s name, date of birth and the hearing date. Read guidance on accessing case details.

• Reminder: Organisation administrators need to keep defence firms’ and chambers’ details up-to-date and manage colleagues’ account access on Common Platform. Our guidance explains the role of an administrator and how to manage user accounts. Read about being an organisation administrator.

• Reminder: Defence solicitors and barristers can join one of our regular online support sessions to get help with using Common Platform. We’ll answer questions, offer advice and help with troubleshooting. Sessions take place on Tuesdays at 4:30pm and Thursdays at 9am. Email to book a session. For details on using Common Platform, watch our videos on how to use Common Platform and account registration and security. You can also read our how-to guides.

Civil

Damages claims services

• Reminder: As part of the civil reform project to create a fully digital damages claims service, we’ve introduced new functions for legal representatives and judges. Firms will need to sign up to MyHMCTS and add their staff to the system to use these functions. Since 1 March 2023, legal representatives can use MyHMCTS to request and issue a default judgment in the online civil money claims or damages service against another legally represented party. They can review and progress their case at any time using the online portal. Since 8 March 2023, judges, or legal advisors in appropriate cases, can provide a small claims or fast track standard directions order on a case after reviewing the digital case file. Notification of the digital order will then be sent electronically to legal representatives and will be available on the portal. The introduction of digital orders should significantly reduce the current wait by parties for their case to be reviewed and allocated.

Family

Financial remedy

• Update: Please let us know you’re representing a party on a financial remedy case using the notice of change option on MyHMCTS. Find guidance on how to submit a notice of change.

Judicial guidance and announcements

• For the latest practice directions, advice, and guidance, visit the Judicial Office website.

Previous editions

• HMCTS Update - 13 March 2023
• HMCTS Update - 6 March 2023
• HMCTS Update - 27 February 2023
• HMCTS Update - 20 February 2023
• HMCTS Update - 13 February 2023
• HMCTS Update - 6 February 2023
• Week commencing Monday 30 January 2023
• Week commencing Monday 23 January 2023
• Week commencing Monday 16 January 2023
• Week commencing Monday 9 January 2023
• Week commencing Monday 2 January 2023
• Week commencing Monday 19 December 2022
• Week commencing Monday 12 December 2022
• Week commencing Monday 5 December 2022

Published 21 May 2021
Last updated 17 March 2023 + show all updates

1. 17 March 2023

   Updated for week beginning 20 March 2023.

2. 10 March 2023

   Updated for week beginning Monday 13 March 2023.

3. 3 March 2023

   Updated for week commencing Monday 6 March 2023.

4. 24 February 2023

   HMCTS Update week commencing 27 Feb 2023 added.

5. 17 February 2023

   Updated for week beginning 20 February 2023.

6. 10 February 2023

   Updated for week beginning Monday 13 February 2023.

7. 3 February 2023

   Updated for week beginning 6 February 2023.

8. 27 January 2023

   Update for week commencing Monday 30 January published.

9. 20 January 2023

   Update for week commencing Monday 23 January published.

10. 13 January 2023

    Update for week commencing Monday 16 January 2023 published.

11. 6 January 2023

    Update for week commencing Monday 9 January 2023 published.

12. 30 December 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 2 January 2023 published.

13. 21 December 2022

    Added translation

14. 16 December 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 19 December 2022 published.

15. 9 December 2022

    Updated for week beginning 12 December 2022.

16. 2 December 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 5 December 2022 published.

17. 25 November 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 28 November 2022 published.

18. 23 November 2022

    Added translation

19. 18 November 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 21 November 2022 published.

20. 11 November 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 14 November published.

21. 4 November 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 7 November published.

22. 2 November 2022

    Added translation

23. 28 October 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 31 October 2022 published.

24. 28 October 2022

    Added translation

25. 28 October 2022

    Added translation

26. 21 October 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 24 October published.

27. 14 October 2022

    Updated for week commencing 17 October.

28. 13 October 2022

    Added translation

29. 7 October 2022

    Updated for week commencing Monday 10 October 2022.

30. 30 September 2022

    Updated for week commencing Monday 3 October 2022.

31. 23 September 2022

    Updated for week commencing Monday 26 September 2022.

32. 6 September 2022

    Added translation

33. 2 September 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 5 September 2022 published.

34. 26 August 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 29 August 2022 published.

35. 19 August 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 22 August 2022 published.

36. 12 August 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 15 August 2022 published.

37. 9 August 2022

    Added translation

38. 5 August 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 8 August 2022 published.

39. 29 July 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 1 August 2022 published.

40. 22 July 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 25 July 2022 published.

41. 15 July 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 18 July 2022 published.

42. 12 July 2022

    Added translation

43. 8 July 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 11 July 2022 published.

44. 1 July 2022

    Updated for week commencing Monday 4 July.

45. 24 June 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 27 June 2022 published.

46. 22 June 2022

    Operational update on bar action added.

47. 17 June 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 20 June 2022 published.

48. 10 June 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 13 June 2022.

49. 1 June 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 6 June 2022 published.

50. 27 May 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 30 May 2022 published.

51. 20 May 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 23 May 2022 published.

52. 20 May 2022

    Added translation

53. 13 May 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 16 May 2022 published.

54. 6 May 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 9 May 2022 published.

55. 29 April 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 2 May 2022.

56. 25 April 2022

    Added translation

57. 22 April 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 25 April 2022 published.

58. 20 April 2022

    Added translation

59. 14 April 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 18 April 2022 published.

60. 8 April 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 11 April 2022 published.

61. 6 April 2022

    Added translation

62. 1 April 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 4 April 2022 published.

63. 30 March 2022

    Added translation

64. 25 March 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 28 March 2022 published.

65. 23 March 2022

    Added translation

66. 22 March 2022

    Update on Common Platform added.

67. 18 March 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 21 March 2022 published.

68. 16 March 2022

    Added translation

69. 11 March 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 14 March 2022 published.

70. 10 March 2022

    Added translation

71. 8 March 2022

    Added translation

72. 4 March 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 7 March 2022 published.

73. 1 March 2022

    Added translation

74. 25 February 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 28 February 2022 published.

75. 24 February 2022

    Added translation

76. 18 February 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 21 February 2022 published.

77. 15 February 2022

    Added translation

78. 11 February 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 14 February 2022 published.

79. 10 February 2022

    Added translation

80. 4 February 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 7 February 2022 published.

81. 28 January 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 31 January 2022 published.

82. 25 January 2022

    Added translation

83. 21 January 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 24 January 2022 published.

84. 18 January 2022

    Added translation

85. 14 January 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 17 January 2022 published.

86. 7 January 2022

    Update for week commencing Monday 10 January 2022 published.

87. 5 January 2022

    Added translation

88. 31 December 2021

    Update for week commencing Monday 3 January 2022 published.

89. 17 December 2021

    Update for week commencing Monday 20 December 2021 published.

90. 16 December 2021

    Added translation

91. 10 December 2021

    Update for week commencing Monday 13 December 2021 published.

92. 3 December 2021

    Update for week commencing Monday 6 December 2021 published.

93. 2 December 2021

    Added translation

94. 26 November 2021

    Update for week commencing Monday 29 November published.

95. 22 November 2021

    Added translation

96. 19 November 2021

    Update for week commencing Monday 22 November 2021 published.

97. 16 November 2021

    Added translation

98. 12 November 2021

    Update for week commencing Monday 15 November published.

99. 5 November 2021

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

100. 29 October 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 1 November 2021 published.

101. 26 October 2021

     Added translation

102. 22 October 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 25 October published.

103. 19 October 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 18 October 2021 published.

104. 13 October 2021

     Added translation

105. 8 October 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 11 October 2021 published.

106. 1 October 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 4 October 2021 published.

107. 29 September 2021

     Added translation

108. 24 September 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 27 September published.

109. 21 September 2021

     Added translation

110. 17 September 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 20 September 2021 published.

111. 16 September 2021

     Added translation

112. 10 September 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 13 September published.

113. 3 September 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 6 September 2021 published.

114. 1 September 2021

     Added translation

115. 27 August 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 30 August 2021 published.

116. 24 August 2021

     Added translation

117. 20 August 2021

     Updated for week commencing Monday 23 August 2021.

118. 18 August 2021

     Welsh translation added.

119. 13 August 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 16 August 2021 published.

120. 10 August 2021

     Added translation

121. 6 August 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 9 August 2021 published.

122. 4 August 2021

     Added translation

123. 30 July 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 2 August 2021 published.

124. 27 July 2021

     Added translation

125. 23 July 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 26 July 2021 published.

126. 20 July 2021

     Added translation

127. 19 July 2021

     Updated COVID guidance pages added.

128. 16 July 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 19 July 2021 published.

129. 13 July 2021

     Added translation

130. 9 July 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 12 July published.

131. 6 July 2021

     Added translation

132. 2 July 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 5 July 2021.

133. 28 June 2021

     Added translation

134. 25 June 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 28 June 2021 published.

135. 22 June 2021

     Added translation

136. 18 June 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 21 June 2021 published.

137. 14 June 2021

     Added translation

138. 11 June 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 14 June 2021 published.

139. 8 June 2021

     Added translation

140. 4 June 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 7 June 2021 published.

141. 28 May 2021

     Update for week commencing Monday 31 May 2021 published.

142. 26 May 2021

     Added translation

143. 25 May 2021

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

144. 21 May 2021

     First published.