Emergency courts are sitting during the coronavirus crisis.

All summary adult and juvenile remand courts for offenders on bail or answering a summons listed last week were cancelled.

While the Covid-19 restrictions are in place, an emergency summary courts will sit each morning.

These will hear cases involving offenders remanded in custody to court from police custody or previously remanded by the court - and wherever possible, this will be done via a live link.

Other cases that will be heard by the emergency court included those involving offenders arrested for breach of bail or on a warrant issued; opposed applications to vary bail; maintenance enforcement warrants, urgent breaches of Covid-19 restrictions and any other emergency application.

Cases that were listed for last week will be adjourned to June 5. Letters have been sent out to the defendants.

High Bailiff Jayne Hughes said she would be grateful to hear any suggestions as to how the summary court procedure could be further improved to protect court users and administration ’during this difficult time’.

Changes have also been made to high court procedures.

Court users are encouraged to consider whether it is absolutely necessary to file new claims or applications.

And in order to help reduce the number of matters coming before the court, parties are urged to ’use their best endeavours to agree a constructive and sensible approach’.

Where it is really necessary for matters to come before the court, parties are invited to file documents electronically.

If they are required to sign a document but are unable to do so, they can give an undertaking that they will do so as soon as possible after the current Covid-19 measures are lifted.

Services normally delivered via the Probate and Tribunals public counter will not be available for the foreseeable future.

Probate applications, tribunal files and general post can be left with the security team at the main courthouse building. Anyone needing to swear or affirm an application should ring 685265 to arrange an appointment.