People with disabilities: going to court and police help

Going to court and accessibility

If you have to go to court as a witness, juror, victim, applicant, respondent or defendant you may need extra support or facilities. Courtrooms and places where civil or family proceedings are held should be accessible to people with disabilities.

• Going to court 

Preparing to go to court

If you have to go to court, you will be sent the necessary details, including:

• the date and time of the hearing
• court opening hours and location
• arrangements, facilities and support for people with disabilities
• a telephone number for more information

You can help the court make sure things run smoothly by telling them beforehand if you have any needs. You can take a friend, relative or carer to court.

Facilities at courts

Courts must offer a reasonable adjustment for making services available to people with disabilities - where a physical feature makes it impossible or unreasonably difficult to make use of them.

Types of facilities and 'reasonable adjustments' court buildings should put in place include:

• disabled parking spaces near to the courthouse
• hearing aid induction loops in courtrooms
• information leaflets and oath cards available in large print
• advice and information on court procedure

Contact the court for information about its services and facilities. All courts have an officer who can answer any questions you have.

If needed, staff can organise a court visit to familiarise you with the court building. Details about how to contact the court will be on any correspondence you have been sent.

You can also look up court addresses, contact details, facilities and maps, and download local information leaflets on the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service website.

• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service 

Intermediaries in criminal trials

If you are acting as a witness in a criminal trial and need help to communicate your best evidence, you may be allowed to use a 'registered intermediary'.

You can use the intermediary to help you give evidence in the police station and at court.

Registered Intermediaries are people the court approves to explain to the witness the questions that the court, the defence and the prosecution teams ask, and to communicate the answers that the witness gives in response.

Intermediaries must not change the meaning of what they explain. Intermediaries do not act for the defence, the prosecution or the witness - they are neutral.

Being summoned to be a juror

Jury summons forms ask you if you will have any extra needs.  Further information will then be sent to you once the customer service centre has processed the reply to your summons. This will tell you about the court facilities.

• Jury service
• Exemptions from jury service

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service

Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service carries out the administration and support for:

• the Court of Appeal
• the High Court
• the Crown Court
• the Magistrates' Court
• the County Court
• the Coroners Court
• the Enforcement of Judgments Office
• a range of Tribunals

You can find out more on the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service website.

• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service 

Going to court if you are blind or visually impaired

If you are blind or visually impaired, the court can give you information about available communication support and facilities. 

Facilities and services at courts

You should be able to visit the court before you formally need to go to court. This will give you a chance to get a feel for the surroundings and ask the court officer any questions you have.

To arrange a pre-court visit, contact the court you are due to go to. You can find details about how to contact the court on any communication you have been sent or via the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service website.

• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service 

Information in other formats

All information can be made available in other formats. You can ask the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service for these formats. 

Assistance dogs

Assistance dogs are allowed into the courtroom. Going to court, particularly as a jury member, can mean long days. If a court session is long and your dog needs a break, you may need to arrange this with the judge via courtroom staff. 

If you need any of these services, contact any member of the court staff and they will be able to talk about your needs and make any necessary arrangements.

The Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) and going to court

In certain circumstances, the DDA allows public bodies to justify less favourable treatment to make sure a fair balance is struck between the rights of people with disabilities and wider concerns. For example, a decision not to call a blind person for jury service in a particular case where it is considered vital that the jury can consider a good deal of the evidence visually is likely to be justified.

Going to court if you are deaf or hearing impaired

If you are deaf or hearing impaired, the court can give you information about the available communication support and facilities. If you do not speak English as your first language, the court may be able to arrange an interpreter for your use in the courtroom.

Facilities at courts

Most courtrooms are fitted with induction loops. If you think this may help you, tell an officer at the court as soon as you know you will have to go to a hearing.

If you want, you may visit the courtroom before the case is heard to be certain the facility will help you. To arrange a pre-court visit, contact the court you are due to go to.

If the start of your case is called over a tannoy system and you feel this may be a problem, let the person on the reception desk know this.

You can find details about how to contact the court on any correspondence you have been sent, or on the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service website.

• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service 

Using an interpreter

In criminal proceedings the provision and cost of interpreters for defendants is met by the Criminal Justice system.

In civil or family proceedings and tribunal proceedings generally, when an action is privately funded, it is a matter for the party needing the services of an interpreter to make the arrangements and meet the costs. However, the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service will arrange and meet the cost of interpreters for certain types of hearings and in certain circumstances when they are booked through the court. For example:

• in cases of alleged domestic abuse
• family cases involving children
• cases proceeding under the Forced Marriage Act
• when directed by the Coroner
• when the judge or tribunal chairman directs that an interpreter be arranged by the court or tribunal

This is even if solicitors are involved or public funding is available.

If you need the use of an interpreter for your hearing, you should tell the court as soon as possible and they will make arrangements for you.

The Court Service is not responsible for providing an interpreter for any preparation involved during your case or for consultations that take place outside of the courtroom - for example, discussions with a solicitor.

If you need the use of an interpreter, you should tell the court as soon as possible. The court will make arrangements for an interpreter to go. The Court Service is not responsible for providing an interpreter for any preparation involved during your case - for example, discussions with a solicitor.

The Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service will, on direction of the Coroner, arrange and meet the cost of interpreters needed for witnesses at a coroner’s inquest.

Further information on the circumstances when an interpreter will be provided by the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service can be found on its website.

• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service 

Using a friend or relative as an interpreter

Unless your friend or relative has a recognised qualification in relaying information between deaf and hearing people, it may be better to use a qualified interpreter.

If you want a friend or relative to interpret for you at a hearing, you will need to ask the judge for permission. The judge must be satisfied that your friend or relative can exactly interpret what you are saying to the court and also interpret what is being said to you.

More information and advice

Your first point of contact should always be with the court you are to go to. You can find details about how to contact the court on any correspondence you have been sent, or on the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service website.

• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service 

Going to court if you have a 'hidden' impairment

You may be worried about going to court and you may feel the stress might make a medical condition or impairment worse. You should tell the court if you have any concerns.

Hidden impairments

Hidden impairments include disabilities that may not be obvious to other people, for example:

• a slight mobility impairment
• diabetes
• epilepsy
• cancer
• dyslexia

Things to think about

If you have any concerns, speak to a court officer or let the person on the reception desk know that you may need help.

You will be able to visit the court before you formally need to go to court. This will give you a chance to get a feel for the surroundings and to ask a court officer any questions you have.

To arrange a pre-court visit, contact the court you are due to go to. If your impairment or medical condition is likely to affect you during a hearing, tell a court official before the hearing begins. Examples of help to ask for include:

• having questions read out to you so that a form can be filled in
• if you have impaired speech, having someone to speak for you
• being accompanied at all times by someone who can help - for example with holding papers
• being able to eat or drink at regular intervals during the hearing because you are diabetic
• having regular breaks - for example to take medication

If any of the above situations apply to you, you must bring this to the attention of the court as soon as possible.

You can find details about how to contact the court on any correspondence you have been sent, or on the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service website.

• Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service 

Police and people with disabilities

If you get involved with the police, perhaps as a witness or victim of crime, or you are detained, arrested or taken to a police station, you have the same rights as anyone else.

Being questioned or interviewed at a police station

Deaf, hearing impaired or difficulty with speech

If you are deaf, have a hearing impairment or difficulty with speech the police should arrange for an interpreter to be present. The police should not question you until the interpreter is present. This is unless a delay would mean an immediate risk of harm to someone or serious loss of, or damage to, property.

Learning disability

The police should only interview someone who has a learning disability when a responsible person (sometimes called an 'appropriate adult') is present. This person should not be employed by the police and should be experienced in dealing with people with learning disabilities. It could be a relative of the person who is interviewed or someone responsible for their care.

If you have a learning disability, the police should not interview you until a responsible person is present unless delay would result in a risk of harm to property or people.

Right to medical treatment

If you are detained, you are entitled to a medical examination by a Forensic Medical Officer. You may also be examined by a general practitioner (GP) that you choose, if they are available. You may have to pay for this. This will be formally recorded.

Police and removing someone to a 'place of safety'

There are occasions when the police may act if they think that someone is in need of immediate care or control. They have the power to remove someone to a 'place of safety' for their own protection or the protection of others.

• Mental Health (NI) Order 1986

Place of safety

A place of safety could be a hospital or police station. Taking someone to a place of safety will allow that person to be assessed by a doctor and interviewed by an approved social worker.

The maximum time someone can be detained is 48 hours. By then, any necessary arrangements for the person's treatment and care should have been made.

Rights of the person detained

If the police remove someone under the Mental Health Order to a police station, the person being removed is entitled to:

• have another person, of their choice, informed of their whereabouts
• access to legal advice
• the support of an 'appropriate adult'
• medical treatment from a suitable healthcare professional if needed

An 'appropriate adult' should not be employed by the police and should be experienced in dealing with people with mental health problems. It could be a relative of the person or someone responsible for their care.

More useful links

• Police Service of Northern Ireland 
• Divorce, relationship breakdown and family courts