Please find below a report from Kerry Hudson, an LCCSA committee member, which will be of interest to members.

 

Requests for further information to Leanne.Galbraith@Justice.gov.uk

 

Kind regards,

 

Mark

 

Dear all,

 

I attended the Common Platform Show and Tell - Defence access to IDPC & Research findings meeting last week (28.06.18).

 

They mainly showed us the log in screens for when we will access the digital system for obtaining the IDPC in due course.

 

The purpose of this meeting was to show us what it will look like an identify any potential problems with the log in process.

 

The idea is that you will log into the system a bit like how you log into internet banking. We will all need to download a Microsoft Authenticator App on our phones which will generate random 6 figure codes. Once a code is entered, you will remain logged in for 8 hours, after which a new code would be required. We will all have to register our mobile numbers with them before it is rolled out.

 

Once logged in, you will then be able to search for the IDPC by entering the URN, first name, surname and DOB of the client. All fields must be entered and be identical to what they hold on their system. I pointed out the impracticality of this given that spellings of names are often wrong etc. I was told they are aware of that but those in charge of the project are currently insisting  on all the fields being entered for security reasons. When they run the pilot for this they can feed back any problems with evidence to try and convince them to proceed with e.g. just entering a URN.

 

You will then sign an electronic declaration to confirm you have been instructed to act before being taken to the IDPC. They are aware of the issue of Agents not technically being instructed by the client and are looking into how to solve this with a slightly different worded declaration. They are also aware that there may have been a change of solicitor so more than one firm can obtain the IDPC. There will be a log of who has accessed it visible to all so that we can see if other firms have tried to obtain the papers.

 

This will take you to an electronic IDPC which will be downloadable. It will also have hyperlinks to BWV/CCTV/ABE’s etc – looks good once you get through the process of accessing it in the first place (and assuming the police/CPS have uploaded the evidence for the IDPC into the system). No real answer as yet to how unrepresented defendants will be accessing their papers.

 

The second half of the meeting was an update about the CCDCS . The main headline is that from this Friday (06.07.18) the sections will be locked so that the Crown cannot add their own random sections. They are still working on fixing the LAA report function and they will be rolling out the “multihanded case solution” over the summer by CPS areas . When this happens, for all new cases you will only see one joint case instead of a joint and a single case. They will be creating webinars and making efforts to publish these changes before the roll out and would like our assistance to cascade the changes to our members in due course.

 

Time scales for the IDPC project not yet clear.