Justice requires a cool head
IT’S not unusual for those before the court to be hottempered — but now staff can see them coming.
Thermal cameras were used for the first time at the Dunedin District Court yesterday, part of the Ministry of Justice’s response to the Covid19 pandemic.
Chief operating officer Carl Crafar said the technology, which had been introduced in selected courts, would monitor the body temperature of all those who entered the building.
As courtusers pass through the entrance, the imaging software, which is monitored by security staff, captures their temperature and logs it in the system.
Anyone who gives a reading of more than 38degC automatically sets off an alarm.
None of the more than 300 people — including one judge — who passed through the front door of the court yesterday exceeded the threshold.
Under Level 2, those attending court have to wait outside until their cases are about to be called.
They are allowed one support person to sit in the public gallery during the hearing.
Chief District Court Judge Heemi Taumaunu in a statement released this week said it would not be business as usual for the foreseeable future.
“The [new protocol] outlines the reinforced measures the court is taking to safely manage the expected influx of people as the court steadily but cautiously extends its work,” Judge Taumaunu says.
As part of the Covid19 response, jury trials will not be held until July 31.