Police officers are giving evidence to court via a live video link from the police station, under a scheme being piloted by the Ministry of Justice.

The scheme is currently being tested between South Norwood Police Station in London and Croydon Magistrates’ Court, and will be extended to suitably equipped police stations in Kent and Hertfordshire.

The pilot, which began at the end of March, will run until the end of the year.

The MoJ said the scheme will be rolled out nationally ‘in due course’, following an assessment of the pilot and the impact on the broader justice system.

The scheme is designed to improve efficiency by minimising the time officers spend attending court.

Ian Kelcey, chair of the Law Society’s criminal law committee, said: ‘In principle, we have no objection, but subject to ­certain criteria being met about the handling of exhibits such as police notebooks.

'They will need to be in court for inspection.’

Kelcey said he was not sure that the scheme would make any efficiency savings for the police.

But he added: ‘Even when the defence don’t require officers, they often turn up.

'On the other hand, there are times when the defence have not applied their mind to whether they need the officers to attend, and again they turn up needlessly.’

The latest scheme follows a ‘virtual court’ pilot implemented by the MoJ in 2009, in which defendants made their first court appearance via video link from the police station.

An MoJ assessment of the scheme found that its costs had exceeded any savings. However, the ministry has said that it remains committed to the scheme.