To avoid crowds courts go online as drones patrol some key areas

GOVERNMENTS are using the Internet and drones to avoid gatherings of people.

Jiading People’s Court heard a criminal case online in order to avoid human contact. It was the first online criminal trial in Shanghai.

The image of the judge, prosecutors, the defendant and his lawyer was displayed on a screen in front of the judgment seat. It took the judge just 20 minutes to adjudicate with synchronous audio and video recording.

The court has applied the method to contract disputes. A resident surnamed Wang praised the new method.

“I was worried that my case would be postponed because of the virus,” said Wang. “However, everything is smooth. With such a safe and highly efficient way, I don’t need to sacrifice my health to protect my legitimate rights.”

Jiading People’s Court has shut down its litigation service and complaint reception centers. If people want to file a suit, they can place a case on file and submit material through the Internet.

Drones are used to patrol key areas such as river channels and construction sites in Xuhang Town, avoiding the risk of crossinfection of people on the street. Thanks to drones, patrol areas have been expanded, helping the police to better protect the entire community.

Wang Jialu, a member of the urban management team in Xuhang, used a drone to inspect the construction site on Qining Road on February 13, checking that workers hadn’t resumed work. Every corner on the construction site is visible via the camera on the drone.

“There are many construction sites in Xuhang so drones are helpful. They patrol the area every one or two days, taking pictures and recording video,” said Wang.

“We can find differences such as whether the plant has resumed or not comparing today’s pictures or video with previous days,” Wang said. “With drones, we can inspect markets and shops along the streets and record evidence.”

(Translated by Yu Hong)