Is it legal for you to use information supplied to you in confidence, as part of your public service, for personal amusement away from the court ?
If the information is given in open court, then it is no different to a member of the public using information gleaned from listening to proceedings.
Are search warrants applied for in open court ? I would assume not.
radams
Obviously not - the element of surprise would be lost otherwise if the details were overheard in open court & passed on to the intended recipient. However:
1) Once the warrant was executed, the details would be in the public realm anyway (e.g. could be reported in the press) and anyone could look it up.
2) It would be within Bystander's rights to refuse to sign the warrant until he had full details of the crime, or not at all if he felt that the information could be obtained another way, and looking it up on the internet would be a good way of checking the scale of the alleged crime before signing. I am aware that it did not happen this way around, but nevertheless I see nothing wrong with him taking an interest after the event.
I am surprised that if Plod says that something is available on eBay, that the judge/magistrate cannot just tap on a computer in front of him to verify that the allegation is true on a prima facie basis.
The Information in support of a warrant application is made on oath, so the presumption is that it is true. Computers in court? Don't make me laugh. That won't happen in my judicial lifetime.
Our legal advisors have computers on their desks in the court rooms Bystander (not in retiring rooms)and we can get up to date internet information if we think it useful. Usually only the cricket scores at lunch time.
@Bystander "Computers in court? Don't make me laugh. That won't happen in my judicial lifetime."
We have them in court in Sheffield.
A lot of courts have computer terminals - no doubt purchased in eager anticipation of the advantages of LIBRA (unfortunately abandoned in 2002 when already £136M over budget).
In our courts they are used by (some) clerks to record notes in MS Word during trials and by others to look at emails. As for fairly obvious applications such as booking future court sessions, maintaining court records or accessing the DVLA database they are completely useless.
According to CJSIT, Libra was live in 3 areas at the end of 2006.
I am surprised that the various courts weren't simply given a DVD with program on and told "here, just install this on your PC, and if you haven't got one go and get one from PC World..."
I was referring to computers for the use of the bench. No chance there - especially since HMCS pays more than three grand for a laptop.
Um...in theory our Family colleagues have a laptop and printer in the Family retiring room to help them formulate reasons based on a template...and I believe that there is also a laptop in one of our 'crime' retiring rooms for similar purposes but I've never seen it booted up - perhaps I'll have a go when I'm next in and we're waiting for the CPS and defence to get their act together to start proceedings!!
Anyway, to all the regulars on here (and even some of the irregulars!!) Have a very Happy Christmas, Winterval, Eid, Purim and anything else I've missed and a Safe, Peaceful and Healthy New Year - SLJP 
Re southlondonjp: And crimefree surely, or would this jeopardize (ise) your hobby?
Well Oldgit, Safe and Peaceful kind of incorporates crimefree wouldn't you say?? Unless you know of any safe and peaceful crimes for the victims that is...not sure I do...
southlondonjp
On reflection I think you are right and apologise for any offence.
I felt a bit waspish this am
How very nice to see that civility has broken out.... Merry Christmas and Happy New Year to Bystander and all his readers.
Ironic that you should post this on 23rd December, this is the day that I discovered that the plod are to take no further action against me over a £30 postal order regarding an eBay transaction that I had no part in.....it's only taken since 16th May this year! At least I'm no longer on Police Bail!!
Read about it in my blog http://carryonconstable.blogspot.com/ as soon as I've seen my M.P. with the IPPC complaints!
Bench laptops - great idea - just how many on the bench could handle the technology - half my local bench do not even use email for communication.
Maybe a fool proof rota could be of more use - my new rota arrived a few weeks ago and i have sittings in Jan, then March and then June - so much for a computerised sitting process - that gives gaps of 40 and 80 days - complaints have been registered!
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