To the rescue Court shut eight years ago to help cut backlog
CIRENCESTER Magistrates’ Court will reopen to help clear the current backlog of criminal cases in the country caused by the pandemic.
The town’s court building was closed in 2012 by Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) but will open its doors again as a “Nightingale Court” announced by the Ministry of Justice.
The magistrates’ court is expected to open some time this month, and adjoins Cirencester’s police station and operated as both a magistrates’ court and reserve Crown court until it was axed.
Gloucestershire Police and Crime Commissioner Martin Surl, whose office owns the building, said there are around 1,000 criminal cases waiting to be heard in Gloucestershire.
He said the figure is a record number and has “more than doubled since the start of the pandemic”.
Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland said last week Cirencester is one of eight additional courts to open, with some theatres and hotels being converted into courtrooms.
Nationally the estimated waiting list for a court case to be heard stretches into seven figures, Mr Surl said, adding “the speed of the response has been lamentable” and it could be at least until 2022 before they catch up.
Mr Surl said he offered the Government Cirencester Magistrates’ Court earlier this year and “it would only need updated IT for it to function as a court once more”.
He said: “There’s been lots of noise from the ministry about creating temporary Nightingale Courts to try and tackle the backlog. I offered them a ready-made building in May and it could have been operating months ago.
“We have a magistrates’ court in Cheltenham that’s been unable to function fully and without a magistrates’ court, little goes to the Crown court so waiting lists are already higher than they’ve ever been.
“According to some estimates, it could be at least 2022 before they catch up.
“Behind those 1,000 cases there are more than 1,000 victims, witnesses and defendants with a court appearance hanging over their heads.
“I saw a problem and offered a solution. No one else locally came up with any alternative. It’s been a huge amount of effort to get to this stage and my office has worked tirelessly on it. In fact, I feel the OPCC has come to the rescue of justice in Gloucestershire.
“HMCTS appear to have got there in the end but I’m disappointed it’s taken them so long.”
In 2010 HMCTS began a national reform programme which saw courts closed across the country.
Among the courts lost in Gloucestershire were Cirencester Magistrates,’ Cheltenham County and Coleford magistrates’ courts leaving just the magistrates’ court in Cheltenham, Gloucester Crown Court and a combined civil and family court in Gloucester as well.
I feel the Office of the Police and Crime Commissioner has come to the rescue of justice in Gloucestershire
PCC Martin Surl