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UK Justice Ministry Orders Deletion of Criminal Court Records

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<h2>Editor's Note</h2>

His Majesty's Courts &amp; Tribunal Service (HMCTS) has ordered Courtsdesk — a digital service launched in 2020 to help journalists and campaigners track court records — to delete its entire archive, citing a data protection issue related to unauthorized sharing via a test feature. Courtsdesk founder Enda Leahy stated the company wrote to government agencies 16 times seeking dialogue before receiving a final refusal last week.

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His Majesty's Courts & Tribunal Service (HMCTS) has ordered Courtsdesk — a digital service launched in 2020 to help journalists and campaigners track court records — to delete its entire archive, citing a data protection issue related to unauthorized sharing via a test feature. Courtsdesk founder Enda Leahy stated the company wrote to government agencies 16 times seeking dialogue before receiving a final refusal last week.

Since its launch, Courtsdesk has provided more than 1,500 journalists from 39 media organizations with searchable access to magistrates' court listings and registers.

Since its launch, Courtsdesk has provided more than 1,500 journalists from 39 media organizations with searchable access to magistrates' court listings and registers.

According to Courtsdesk's analysis, journalists have received no advance notice for 1.6 million criminal hearings, and official court listings matched actual proceedings on only 4.2% of sitting days during the period examined.

According to Courtsdesk's analysis, journalists have received no advance notice for 1.6 million criminal hearings, and official court listings matched actual proceedings on only 4.2% of sitting days during the period examined.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who approved the pilot as justice minister, wrote to courts minister Sarah Sackman demanding the deletion decision be reversed, while Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam stated that access to court records is necessary to know the truth about grooming gangs.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who approved the pilot as justice minister, wrote to courts minister Sarah Sackman demanding the deletion decision be reversed, while Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam stated that access to court records is necessary to know the truth about grooming gangs.

HMCTS has completed a project that began in 2020 to transfer 37 applications from outdated datacenters in Park Royal and Swindon that used approximately 2,500 pieces of hardware. Programme Director Pete Harrison stated many were so old that finding replacement parts was nearly impossible.

Insidehmcts

HMCTS has completed a project that began in 2020 to transfer 37 applications from outdated datacenters in Park Royal and Swindon that used approximately 2,500 pieces of hardware. Programme Director Pete Harrison stated many were so old that finding replacement parts was nearly impossible.

The Ministry of Justice maintains that press access to court information remains available through existing channels. HMCTS has developed Common Platform as the central criminal case management system for all magistrates' and Crown Court cases.

The Ministry of Justice maintains that press access to court information remains available through existing channels. HMCTS has developed Common Platform as the central criminal case management system for all magistrates' and Crown Court cases.

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Courtsdesk, a digital platform launched in 2020 following approval by the Lord Chancellor and former Justice Minister Chris Philp, provided more than 1,500 journalists from 39 media organizations with searchable access to magistrates' court listings and registers.

Courtsdesk, a digital platform launched in 2020 following approval by the Lord Chancellor and former Justice Minister Chris Philp, provided more than 1,500 journalists from 39 media organizations with searchable access to magistrates' court listings and registers.

HM Courts & Tribunal Service ordered Courtsdesk to delete its entire archive, citing a data protection issue related to unauthorized sharing via a test feature. Courtsdesk founder Enda Leahy stated the company wrote to government agencies 16 times seeking dialogue before receiving a final refusal last week.

HM Courts & Tribunal Service ordered Courtsdesk to delete its entire archive, citing a data protection issue related to unauthorized sharing via a test feature. Courtsdesk founder Enda Leahy stated the company wrote to government agencies 16 times seeking dialogue before receiving a final refusal last week.

According to Courtsdesk's analysis, journalists received no advance notice for 1.6 million criminal hearings, and official court listings matched actual proceedings on only 4.2 percent of sitting days during the period examined.

According to Courtsdesk's analysis, journalists received no advance notice for 1.6 million criminal hearings, and official court listings matched actual proceedings on only 4.2 percent of sitting days during the period examined.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who approved the pilot as justice minister, wrote to courts minister Sarah Sackman demanding the deletion decision be reversed. Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam stated that access to court records is necessary to know the truth about grooming gangs.

Shadow Home Secretary Chris Philp, who approved the pilot as justice minister, wrote to courts minister Sarah Sackman demanding the deletion decision be reversed. Shadow Home Office minister Katie Lam stated that access to court records is necessary to know the truth about grooming gangs.

HMCTS completed the transfer of 37 applications from outdated datacenters in Park Royal and Swindon that used approximately 2,500 pieces of hardware. Programme Director Pete Harrison stated many were so old that finding replacement parts was nearly impossible.

HMCTS completed the transfer of 37 applications from outdated datacenters in Park Royal and Swindon that used approximately 2,500 pieces of hardware. Programme Director Pete Harrison stated many were so old that finding replacement parts was nearly impossible.

The Ministry of Justice maintains that press access to court information remains available through existing channels. HMCTS is developing Common Platform as the central criminal case management system for all magistrates' and Crown Court cases.

The Ministry of Justice maintains that press access to court information remains available through existing channels. HMCTS is developing Common Platform as the central criminal case management system for all magistrates' and Crown Court cases.

Modernizing court technology protects the justice system from catastrophic failure and ensures reliable service delivery. Moving 37 applications from 2,500 pieces of outdated hardware to secure cloud platforms eliminates single points of failure that threatened to disrupt essential court services. Digital tools empower judges, lawyers and clerks to work more efficiently while maintaining data security and enabling continuous improvement.

Modernizing court technology protects the justice system from catastrophic failure and ensures reliable service delivery. Moving 37 applications from 2,500 pieces of outdated hardware to secure cloud platforms eliminates single points of failure that threatened to disrupt essential court services. Digital tools empower judges, lawyers and clerks to work more efficiently while maintaining data security and enabling continuous improvement.

Leaving the legacy behind: our journey to modernise court technology  Inside HMCTS

Destroying the Courtsdesk archive eliminates evidence of systemic court failures rather than fixing them. The platform exposed that 1.6 million hearings had no press notice and official listings matched reality only 4.2% of the time. Ordering deletion after journalists used this data to report on grooming gangs and other cases shows institutions hide accountability when transparency becomes politically inconvenient.

Destroying the Courtsdesk archive eliminates evidence of systemic court failures rather than fixing them. The platform exposed that 1.6 million hearings had no press notice and official listings matched reality only 4.2% of the time. Ordering deletion after journalists used this data to report on grooming gangs and other cases shows institutions hide accountability when transparency becomes politically inconvenient.

Claire Adams

Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

Peter Dazeley/Getty Images

UK Courts Order Deletion of Journalist Access Platform

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This decision is a necessary step to protect personal data and uphold privacy rights under data protection laws. Courtsdesk was found to have handled sensitive information improperly, risking the dignity and safety of victims, defendants and others in the justice system. Prioritizing compliance with legal safeguards outweighs the convenience of an external archive, especially when official channels for court access remain available.

This decision is a necessary step to protect personal data and uphold privacy rights under data protection laws. Courtsdesk was found to have handled sensitive information improperly, risking the dignity and safety of victims, defendants and others in the justice system. Prioritizing compliance with legal safeguards outweighs the convenience of an external archive, especially when official channels for court access remain available.

UK Orders Deletion of Court Reporting Platform

UK CourtsOrders Order Deletion of JournalistCourt AccessReporting Platform

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