Magistrates’ Courts throughout Wales are to encourage Welsh in courts

A new protocol has been launched to ensure that court users are made aware of their right to use Welsh in court and to provide guidance for magistrates and court staff on how to best meet the needs of those who wish to use Welsh in court. The Working Group who drafted the protocol spent a year collating information from the Magistrates’ Courts with a view to identifying best practice which could be shared by all.

Judge Eleri Rees, Liaison Judge for the Welsh Language and Chair of the Group who drafted the protocol said: “We must ensure that all parties and witnesses involved in a court hearing are not only made aware of their right to use Welsh, but are also positively encouraged to do so. We hope that the Protocol will not only raise awareness but assist magistrates and court staff in implementing best practice in meeting the linguistic needs of court users. The protocol is intended to reflect, in practice, the principle of equality for both the Welsh and English languages in our courts, as provided for in the Welsh Language Act 1993 ”

The protocol, after wide consultation, has been approved by the Presiding Judges for Wales and it will be distributed to all magistrates’ courts in Wales. The public and court users can obtain a copy at any Magistrates’ Court or download a copy by accessing the HMCS and Judicial Office’s websites. A similar protocol relating to the Crown and County Courts in Wales issued in December 2005 is also available on those sites.

Notes to editors

1. For a copy of the protocol, please visit the link below.
2. If you require any additional information please contact Darren Horsman, at the Judicial Communications Office, on 0207 947 6490.

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