‘Sip test’ to prevent acid in court

BARRISTERS arriving at court carrying a drinks can, cup of coffee or a flask are being asked to take a swig as security staff watch to make sure they are not smuggling in acid.

The Courts and Tribunal Service has ordered that lawyers “entering courts with liquids… will be required to take a sip of the drink to validate that its content is harmless”, and any visitors carrying bottled drinks may also be asked to take the sip test.

The move follows concern over the use of acid and powerful bleach as weapons and a series of disfiguring attacks in recent weeks.

In an email sent to barristers’ chambers across the country, Susan Aclandhood, chief executive of HM Courts and Tribunal Service (HMCTS), said: “Anyone refusing to comply with this request will be refused access to the court as this is a national safety procedure that requires full compliance to

‘The only problem is the last letters of the “taking the sips” policy seem to have been inadvertently jumbled up’

ensure the protection and safety of all court users.

“Often I see one member of the Bar entering the court building with numerous coffee cups having drawn the short straw for the coffee run that day. I just want to state that this new security procedure will in such circumstances require the sip test to be conducted on all drinks and not just on a single cup.

“I realise that this new safety procedure may to some extent inconvenience counsel, however I hope that you will understand why it is necessary and will support us with its implementation.”

One barrister said: “The only problem with the ‘taking the sips’ policy is that the letters of the last word seem inadvertently to have been jumbled up.”

In addition to the taste-test all alcohol and flammable and corrosive liquids will be kept and returned to their owner when they leave the building.

A HMCTS spokesman said: “We take the safety and security of court users and staff extremely seriously.”