Jurors, lawyers, and judges to take home Covid tests in pilot scheme

Court users will be handed home Covid tests from next week under a new pilot scheme to tackle transmission of the virus.

Snaresbrook crown court and Croydon combined court are among five locations selected for the new scheme, handing out testing kits to judges, lawyers, and jurors, as well as staff and other professional court users.

The kits contain seven lateral flow tests designed to be taken at home over the course of two-and-a-half weeks.

In a note from HM Courts and Tribunal Service to legal professionals, it was said the two London courts had been selected for the pilot due to “historic data of prevalence of Covid cases” and “footfall in these locations”.

“It is acknowledged that asymptomatic testing may increase rather than decrease disruption from positive cases, however the overall public health benefit of greater testing might outweigh this”, the note continued.

“Testing will supplement our existing Covid secure measures, provide additional reassurance to staff and court users and help us identify asymptomatic people who need to self-isolate who would not otherwise be identified.”

Crown courts have been picked out for the voluntary pilot over other types of court centre as they are “considered high priority” in HMCTS recovery plans.

Anyone who tests positive for Covid-19 will then be instructed to follow NHS advice to stay at home rather than coming to court.

The pilot is due to start on March 8 and last for five weeks, before a decision is taken by justice chiefs on future testing arrangements.

Covid testing is already taking place at Southwark crown court and Manchester Civil Justice Centre under a separate pilot scheme, which has been extended to April 23.

No positive tests have been returned under those schemes.

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