Dear Members

I have been following the advice and guidance being given regarding police station duty attendances - my understanding ( please correct me if I am wrong ) is that a solicitor can hand matters back to the Dscc
 ( without criticism/penalty ) where he/she does not feel comfortable with the risk of physically attending police station.

What about the situation where one is a court duty - my colleague attended Westminster today as court duty and reported back saying it was business as normal, with dj not expediting anything or running anything differently...constantly asking my colleague to take further instructions from client in the dock
 ( thereby making a mockery of the 2m distancing requirement ), my colleague didn’t leave court till 5pm. COULD HE NOT SIMPLY HAVE REFUSED DUTY on similar basis he was not comfortable with the risk of having to undertake face to face contact with clients in unsanitary cells etc ( I understand probation as a rule, refuse to see defendants face to face, every interview at Westminster is done via tel/video link )?

[On a positive note, I understand a member of the press was in court today reporting on the current  plight of court users ].

Abu Sayeed
Sbg solicitors
Sent from my iPhone