Juries: Hearing Impairment
The question
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what estimate his Department has made of the number of deaf people who have completed jury service since the coming into force of the legal right to British Sign Language interpreters in jury deliberation rooms in the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act 2022.
Answered by Sarah Sackman
Since the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Act came into force in 2022, there have been 84 bookings made for BSL interpreters to assist a deaf juror in deliberations.
HMCTS collects a range of information to support the administration of jury service and to fulfil its Public Sector Equality Duty, and this is regularly reviewed to ensure it is robust and proportionate. Information on adjustments made for individual jurors is not held centrally.
Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →