Courts to pilot e-payment system

06 Jan 2005 14:51

A range of online payment and transactional services for county courts are to be tested in a six month pilot, in an attempt to improve access to justice

County courts in England and Wales are to offer a range of new online services in a six month pilot project due to begin on 17 January, 2005.

Courts across nine towns and cities are taking part in the project that could be rolled out nationally if successful. The pilot sites are Basildon, Birmingham, Bournemouth, Coventry, Dartford, Leicester, Llangefni, Norwich and Preston.

Under the pilot, county court users will be able to fill out official forms online and pay court fees over a secure link using a credit or debit card. People eligible for exemptions to paying court fees will also be able to pay online.

Courts minister Christopher Leslie said: "With this new service court users will not have to leave their homes to fill in and submit commonly used county court forms. I am sure this will benefit those who don't find it easy to get out and about as it makes public services closer to those who need them."

"The main aim of this pilot is to improve access to justice by enabling customers to carry out transactions electronically. They can do this in the comfort of their own homes or at some locations where they can receive advice and help with form completion, for example at the Citizens' Advice Bureau. This removes the need to print out forms and go to the local county court."

The service uses technology supplied by Cable and Wireless and Mandoforms.

Story URL: http://news.zdnet.co.uk/internet/0,1000000097,39183214,00.htm