Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate her Department has made of the annual number of requests for transcripts of sentencing remarks that it would receive if victims whose cases are dealt with in magistrates’ courts were able to obtain such transcripts free of charge.

The Crown Court and magistrates’ courts operate differently, and audio recording is not yet fully in place across magistrates’ courts. As part of preparations for criminal court reforms, HMCTS is making good progress in testing and planning the rollout of recording equipment across all magistrates’ courts. This reflects Lord Brian Leveson’s recommendation for mandatory recording to improve transparency and support reforms to the appeals process.

Our immediate priority is to ensure recording is introduced consistently, reliably, and securely. As trial and sentencing proceedings in magistrates’ courts are not currently recorded, transcripts cannot be universally provided either free of charge or through payment. Extending free transcript provision to magistrates’ court sentencing remarks is not currently under consideration.

Once recording capability is in place, and as we explore how technology, such as AI, could support transcription, we will be better positioned to consider what further transcript provision might look like. Any future expansion of free provision would need to be proportionate and take account of operational capacity, legal safeguards and the protection of vulnerable individuals.