Tributes have been paid to Bradford Court staff – with more than 100 years’ service between them – who have been replaced by new high-tech systems.

The 12 Bradford Crown Court loggers, who recorded and transcribed all court proceedings, worked their final day on Friday.

They have been replaced by the Digital Audio Recording Transcription and Storage (DARTS) system, which is being rolled out across the country by HM Courts and Tribunals Service.

The Recorder of Bradford, Judge James Stewart QC, led tributes to the loggers, who had served the courts for a combined total of 111 years.

Judge Stewart thanked them for their “courtesy, dedication and non-complaining devotion to the cause of justice”.

He said: “Their departure represents yet another step towards the dehumanisation of the court system.”

But Judge Stewart joked that the loggers should think positively because “they will no longer have to put up with my grumpy Victor Meldrew remarks.

“Some will move on to brighter and, I hope, better things. Others, after years of dedicated service, may call it a day.”

Andrew Stubbs QC, representing the Bar, said it was a sad day and the courtesy and helpfulness of the loggers would be missed.

The longest-serving logger, Ken Edington, who worked at the courts for 18 years after a 32-year career as a police officer in Bradford, said: “It is a sad day, and the end of an era, but I have enjoyed every minute and it has been wonderful to be part of a team.

“But it is a particularly sad day for the younger ones among us, because they are now jobhunting.”

Former policeman Geoff Shores, 68, a logger for 15 years, said: “It’s a unique job.

“It’s a shame we have been taken over by the computer, but the courts still have dignity, respect and that ambience that makes them a pleasure to work in.”

A spokesman for HMCTS said benefits of the DARTS system included clearer audio quality, easy playback facilities, a faster and more efficient transcription service and “efficiency savings.”

The spokesman said there would be no redundancies from HMCTS because it did not directly employ them.