Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

Electronic screening for Auckland court

Updated at 4:08 pm on 3 September 2010

Everyone entering Auckland District Court from Friday will be screened after an upgrade of security.

Courts Minister Georgina te Heuheu says the fulltime screening procedure will also be used Manukau District Court later this month and Christchurch's court house next month.

Mrs te Heuheu says everyone, except judges and uniformed police officers, going to those courts will be electronically screened every time they enter. They will have to walk through a metal detector and have their bags x-rayed.

She says the Ministry of Justice worked with the Law Society to ensure the screening did not cause undue delays, affect lawyer-client privilege or lawyers' role at court.

The screening is part of a $9 million upgrade, including including equipment and extra staff.

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