The International Protection Appeals Tribunal will recommence oral hearings on 6 August 2020. An updated “Administrative Practice Note” has been prepared for participants at Tribunal hearings to set out the changes to Tribunal practice and procedure in light of Covid-19 and this Notice is to assist Tribunal users with our changes.
Risk assessments have been undertaken, remedial works carried out and we have worked with health and safety experts to ensure, as far as possible, the health and safety of all who attend the Tribunal premises at Hanover Street. The health and safety of all staff and Tribunal users is of paramount concern to the Tribunal.
Upon arrival at the Tribunal premises, all hearing participants must check in at the security desk in the main foyer. Once they have identified themselves, legal practitioners, appellants, witnesses and interpreters will proceed straight to the assigned hearing room. If an appellant or witness arrives before or after their legal representative, they will be brought to the reception area before being escorted to the assigned hearing room. It is recommended that legal practitioners arrange, where possible, to meet appellants and witnesses before they arrive at the building itself. In order to comply with social distancing requirements, arrival times and hearing times have been staggered. If a hearing participant arrives early, they will not be permitted to enter the building until their scheduled time.
Appellants and other participants in the hearing are requested to arrive on time and it should be noted that only those participating in the hearings will be permitted to enter the building.
All parties are requested to wear face coverings while in the public areas of the building; the wearing of face masks in the hearing rooms is encouraged.
Hand sanitising stations are widely available throughout the building. These should be used upon arrival at the building, on entering a hearing, and when leaving the building
The Tribunal is not in a position to provide pens, paper, water, or photocopying facilities. Parties and other participants in the hearing must provide their own stationery and any other items required.
Interpreters will sign the necessary documentation in the hearing room using their own pen and the Tribunal Member conducting the hearing will collect those documents for submission to the Tribunal administration.
Witnesses will be required to wait in a specially allocated room, adhering to social distancing requirements, until their presence is required in the hearing.
After the hearing, reception staff will be contacted by the Tribunal Member and the staff will escort the parties and other participants in the hearing from the building.