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HMCTS refreshes court security awareness materials

What to expect from security searches when entering courts and tribunals.

For the most up-to-date information on entering our buildings see our going through security at a court or tribunal building page.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has refreshed its court security materials in a wider effort to inform people about the requirements when entering court and tribunal buildings.

Court security awareness materials

The materials, which we developed in collaboration with security contractors, feature a mix of media including posters in courts, video and social media content.

Security poster - a good search (PDF, 105 KB, 1 page) Security posters - prohibited items (PDF, 421 KB, 5 pages) Security posters - security officers (PDF, 3.62 MB, 4 pages)

They are aimed at all of those who use courts and tribunals including legal professionals, the judiciary and contracted security staff.

Who will be searched?

Security checks apply to all users of courts and tribunals, including those who work within them and users of the services.

There are a few exemptions, for example police officers wearing uniform and carrying a warrant card, or visiting judiciary who have registered at the court.

We are working on an alternative access scheme for registered legal professionals, national roll-out for which is already underway and will be completed in 2020.

Updates to this page

Published 8 May 2019
Last updated 21 May 2019 + show all updates
  1. Added translation

  2. First published.