VerbatimParliament, as it happens

Crown Court: Exeter

Asked by Steve DarlingLiberal DemocratMinistry of JusticeTabled Answered 13 July 2026UIN 17066

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what information HM Courts and Tribunals Service holds on failures of the Digital Audio Recording Transcription and Storage system at Exeter Crown Court in each year from 2018 to 2025, including (a) the number of recording failures and (b) the percentage of hearings affected.

Answered by Sarah Sackman

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) uses the Digital Audio Recording, Transcription and Storage (DARTS) system across the Crown Court estate to record hearings. HMCTS and its suppliers hold various forms of information relating to DARTS maintenance and performance.

However, HMCTS does not maintain or validate data on recording failures (or the percentage of hearings affected by such failures) per se, whether specifically about the Crown Court centre at Exeter or generally.

Verbatim has judged this answer against the question that was actually asked — answered, partly answered, or evaded. Sign in to see the verdict →

Open this question in Verbatim →

Every written question, searchable

155,000 questions tabled since the election, with the answer each department gave — and the ones still unanswered, with the clock running. Free to search.

Search written questions →Read on Verbatim