Judges in Oxford are getting wired with technology as part of a courtroom modernisation project.

They are being issued with laptops and their rooms -- at the Oxford Combined Court Centre, in St Aldates -- will be linked to a secure communication network across the criminal justice system.

The Oxford court centre will be given the capability to use EPE -- Electronic Presentation of Evidence -- which has been used extensively in the Hutton Inquiry into the death of Oxfordshire scientist and ex-weapons inspector, Dr David Kelly.

EPE enables evidence to be shown instantly on plasma screens in the courtroom -- transforming the way juries see evidence.

Up to two of the six courtrooms in St Aldate's will be out of action at any one time when the installation of cables begins in November.

Department for Constitutional Affairs spokesman Andrew Bell said it was part of the Government's Link infrastructure project, to modernise systems at all crown and combined court centres in England and Wales over the next three years.

He said: "This is information technology infrastructure for everything including back offices, court rooms, police forces and judges' rooms.

"It provides secure electronic communication across the crown court and criminal justice system."

The system will improve communication between key players such as courts, prisons, the Crown Prosecution Service and Home Office.

Mr Bell said Oxford cases would be transferred to Reading if necessary while installation took place. The system will go live next spring.