Newcastle News Oct 2017

Editorial
In the President’s column in the
last edition of Newcastle News,
Lewis Pearson spoke of the
“extended working hours” pilot
scheme that was due to
commence in September. It is fair
to say that this pilot was not
universally accepted with judges,
barristers, solicitors and probation
staff airing their views, but
perhaps the most vociferous were
the court staff, especially the
ushers. The view was that this was
a step too far, with the proposal
meaning that those who lived any
appreciable distance from the
court would be returning home at
a late hour and from the lawyers’
point of view there was the little
question of remuneration. Many of
the solicitors or trainees or
paralegals who spend time at the
Crown Court are employees and
as such would quite properly
expect to be paid for their time
and given the wafer thin profit
margins that most criminal
practices operate under, that
would be an unwelcome
additional expense. However, an
announcement this week that the
scheme had been suspended was
both unexpected and very
welcome. Criminal practitioners
will be pleased to note that
HMCTS has listened to the
profession and the planned pilot
of flexible operating hours has
been placed on hold, pending retendering
for an independent
organisation to lead the
evaluation work. Further
information will be made
available. There will be further
consultation with the profession
and the pilots will now begin in
February. Now I am as sceptical as
the next lawyer of consultations
between the profession and the
rule-makers, but I see this as a
positive move and it may just be
that someone is prepared to listen
to those at the “coal face” for a
change. Over to you HMCTS!
As someone who is admittedly
technologically challenged, I have
been encouraged/cajoled into
embracing the technology that
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had flooded the courts. I never
thought that I would see the day
when my vocabulary would
consist of words such as “upload”,
“download” and “attachment” but I
speak this language, albeit
falteringly, and marvel at the fact
that it only seems months since I
was content to master the
calculator! The court service is very
keen to push technology and
criminal lawyers have quickly
become used to the “DCS” (Digital
Court System) whereby all
prosecution papers are sent online
(see another computer word!)
Gone are the days when the
courier arrives at the office with a
couple of boxes of papers which
we all struggled to carry, as
everything can now be read on
the laptop (yes I also have one of
those, which is useful when I
remember how to switch it on).
On the same theme, the TV link
was introduced some years ago
and whilst there was initial
suspicion that the remanded
defendant would be at a
disadvantage appearing on screen
rather than live in court, we have
become used to it. So common
sense seemed to dictate that
when I had a case in Oxford Crown
Court that was going to be
adjourned and where the
defendant was appearing by TV
link himself, the court would agree
to counsel (who was from
Newcastle) also using the link
facilities. Sadly the judge would
have none of it and at the 11th
hour arrangements had to be
made for counsel to attend for a
brief hearing. I find our local
courts very accommodating in this
regard and was disappointed at
the judge’s view in this case as it is
about saving costs and
demonstrating efficiency, which
was lacking on this occasion.
I read a survey which placed
Newcastle as the 21st best place
to live in England. So who was
first, London, Stratford-upon-
Avon, Oxford or Cambridge? No, I
give you Slough, yes Slough, as
the winner. I have never been to
Slough (or not that I can
remember) but it is not a place
that would immediately come to
mind if I had participated in that
survey. Above Newcastle was a
place I have visited, twice in the
past month, Milton Keynes. All I
knew about that town was that it
had lots of roundabouts and at
one time it had concrete cows. I
looked for a Grey Street, a river
flanked by wonderful bridges and
a vibrant centre, but simply found
underpasses, tall concrete
buildings and very little history or
tradition. So with due apologies
to the residents of Slough and
Milton Keynes, I vote the Toon
ahead of you every time.
Last month I had the sad task of
attending the funeral of Ken
Weldon, a former partner at
Lambert Taylor & Gregory and
father of current partner, Andrew.
I never worked with Ken, but I met
him on a number of occasions
after I joined the firm and he was
very welcoming to me. He was
not a criminal lawyer, but showed
great interest in and
encouragement for our fight with
the Ministry of Justice and
appeared bewildered at the
current treatment of the
profession. His funeral, whilst sad,
was uplifting as we learned a little
of his life away from the
profession and not least his skill in
playing the Northumberland
pipes. He will be remembered by
all who had the pleasure of
knowing him and sadly missed.
Paul Hanratty
Ediitor
Editorial
Diary Dates
Standing Committee
Dates for 2017
Monday 4th December 2017
Monday 15th January 2018
Date for the Annual
Dinner
10th November 2017
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