The courts in both Malta and Gozo have finally gone digital and evidence is no longer being recorded through the use of cassettes.

This was said by Justice Minister Chris Said during a visit to the Courts in Valletta, where he was accompanied by Parliamentary Assistant Franco Debono.

Dr Said said that evidence was now being taken digitally, a change that had been embarked upon following the intervention of Dr Debono.

It was an initiative that had been was carried out over a number of months so as not to affect sittings and the general operation of the court.

Dr Debono said that the law should now be amended to reflect this development.

Dr Said that that the taking of evidence and its conservation was essential because decisions which affected peoples' lives were taken on the basis of that evidence.

So court staff had to be trained in the use of this equipment.

Other recent developments included equipping a fourth hall with video conferencing facilities.

This equipment was primarily used in cases of sexual abuse on minors to enable minors to give evidence without having to face their aggressor. It was also used in cases of domestic violence. It was last year used on 53 occasions and this year in 12.

Dr Said also said that a pilot project was underway for civil cases to be filed electronically.

Wi-fi had also been installed at both the Malta and the Gozo courts.