Coronavirus: Ten ‘Nightingale Courts’ in England and Wales to open up

Ten non permanent courts are being established up to assistance obvious a backlog of hearings prompted by the coronavirus pandemic.

The new venues, in England and Wales, include a medieval chamber and the Ministry of Justice’s headquarters.

From next week, they will listen to civil, family members and tribunals get the job done as very well as non-custodial crime cases.

Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the new “Nightingale Courts” would assist with “decreasing delays and offering speedier justice for victims”.

The introduction of the new courts means there will be extra room in present courts for hearings where cells and protected dock services are essential, together with jury trials where by the defendant is in custody.

All 10 will be operating subsequent month, with the initially courtroom at East Pallant Dwelling in Chichester envisioned to listen to conditions following week.

The websites are:

• 102 Petty France, the MoJ’s London headquarters
• Knights’ Chamber and Customer Centre, Bishop’s Palace, Peterborough Cathedral
• Previous county court docket at Telford, Shropshire
• Hertfordshire Growth Centre, Stevenage
• Swansea Council Chambers, Swansea
• Cloth Corridor Court docket, a conference and convention venue in Leeds
• Middlesbrough Town Hall, Teesside
• East Pallant Property, property of Chichester District Council
• Prospero Residence, a meeting and conference venue in London
• Former magistrates’ courtroom at Fleetwood, Lancashire

Mr Buckland, also the Lord Chancellor, stated: “They will assistance boost potential throughout our courts and tribunals – minimizing delays and providing speedier justice for victims.

“But we will not cease there. Collectively with the judiciary, courts staff and lawful sector, I am decided that we need to pursue each and every out there choice to make sure our courts recover as promptly as probable.”

Operate will carry on to establish a lot more likely spots for non permanent courts, the Ministry of Justice reported.

Very last thirty day period, Mr Buckland warned perform to crystal clear a backlog in court situations brought about by the coronavirus pandemic could go on into future year.

He mentioned at the time that employing general public structures as courtrooms could assistance decrease the caseload.

Almost half of all courts have been shut in March 2020, with jury trials paused to help stop the unfold of coronavirus. Other hearings were being in a position to choose area with the use of distant technological know-how, with the courts prioritising which circumstances to listen to.

Some jury trials in England and Wales resumed in May possibly, soon after virtually two months on maintain. Almost all courts are now open to the public once more, with 54 listening to jury trials as of future week.

Knowledge unveiled by the Ministry of Justice in June showed that magistrates’ courts faced a backlog of a lot more than 480,000 circumstances, with the backlog in crown courts standing at about 41,000 circumstances final month.

Final week, Mr Buckland established out steps including extending courtroom opening hrs and continuing to use movie calls to hear circumstances, in which appropriate.