It must be the beginning of the working week & I've braved another London mags' court (whose identity is revealed later). 1st court which doesn't try to prevent me observing. Interesting reaction from staff. Why do you want to observe- it's all video links? One court list missing

Case of woman found with crack pipe etc. Found in area prohibited by criminal behaviour order. Suffers from bi-polar disorder. Should she be being prosecuted at all for this? Should someone with severe mental illness be on video link with all lawyers in case also virtual?

Judge "you need to unmute your microphone to probation, we can't hear". Judge says "it's hopeless, it really is". Probation is in fact in court building but not in court! They are now coming from their office to the court

Makes for v.impersonal feeling case with defence, pros & defendant on video. Sound still terrible. Defendant is addicted to drugs. Has breached CBOs & suspended sentences before. Gets given another suspended sentence. Not clear this was urgent case which merited police detention

Another defendant accused of breach of criminal behaviour order. In bit of local area where prohibited. No other crime. On methadone, recently homeless. 12 weeks suspended prison sentence with tag. Urgent?

Big delays between cases..backs up recent research on video enabled justice-suggests fewer hearings are completed per hour in video court than face to face. Next charge of shoplifting to fund drug habit & possession small amount cocaine. Community order & tag. Exclusion from shop

Cells at Wembley & Colindale police custody apparently full last night. Wonder what mix summary/either-way/indictable only offences? Now bail/remand decision for co-defendants in drug supply offences. CPS says high chance of committing further offences & failing to appear.

Having lawyers & probation on video links from inside court building intrigues me. Can't quite see how it reduces infection risk yet definitely makes hearing more difficult to understand. Certainly dulls impact of advocacy. Judge remands both men.

Unrepresented defendant on video persuaded to use the duty solicitor. Good work judge (DJ). Next case unusual..police has asked for an appropriate adult to support def during hearing. Defence lawyer in court says was impossible to get proper instructions over the phone.

Two charges of "flashing".Judge agrees cannot deal with case since lawyer did not get clear instructions on phone. Hears bail application. Judge says has insufficient info & remands him for one night. But no legal framework for police custody to fulfil court remand surely?

Why was defendant who needed appropriate adult for first court appearance put on video link rather than transported to court? Court cells open & staff here. Would have saved a lot of time...

In another court where trial just adjourned. Clerk has said she will allow double the usual time for trial at new date to allow for potential technical problems.

New trial. Pros in court says there have been terrible technical problems today. New tech I've haven't seen before... Prob CVP. Domestic abuse case. Hearing witness evidence on video from witness's home. Terrible sound. View witness has of defence lawyer obscured by bright light.

DJ retires while they set up video link for last witness -presumably since will take so long. Witness is at home with child. Pros asks her to put child in another room. One laptop in the room is turned around to facilitate communicating to those on video -not a long term solution

Sound cuts in and out. Witness has accent. V. difficult to understand mainly due to tech. I'm concerned witness can only see one person in court at a time. If pros seen, cannot see defence or judge or public gallery. No witness has been informed there's anyone in public gallery.