New research led by HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS), will explore how AI can be used to transcribe court hearings. It is hoped this will lead to faster, cheaper court records for victims and others who need them.

Often victims have to pay hundreds or thousands of pounds for court transcripts. Currently, transcripts of Crown Court proceedings are produced by contracted providers. The new study will explore how the Ministry of Justice’s in-house AI, Justice Transcribe, could meet required accuracy standards while reducing transcription time and costs.

The results of the research will be used to inform nationwide plans to upgrade, modernise and open up the court system and increase access to justice in the digital age.

Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC, said: "Victims show immense courage in coming to court, delivering their testimonies and looking their perpetrators in the eye. That’s why it is only right they process what happened in their case in their own time and on their own terms.

"By deploying AI in the courtroom, we can boost transparency and access to justice, building a modernised system that victims can rely on."

Charlotte Schreurs, survivor and founder of the Open Justice For All campaign said: "Having long called for transcripts to be made easily and freely accessible for victims through my Open Justice For All campaign - I welcome AI being deployed in court rooms to make this happen. Court transcripts are imperative for victims in the healing process - to understand what was said and to be able to move on, but it also brings accountability and transparency of the courts."