New court to tackle big backlog of cases
GOVERNMENT CONFIRMS NIGHTINGALE FACILITY FOR CITY
A NIGHTINGALE Court will open in Nottingham this month in a move aimed at tackling a huge backlog of cases.
Confirmation of the temporary venue comes after it was confirmed last month there were more than 10,500 “outstanding” cases across Nottinghamshire.
This was “the highest number of live cases in the region” across magistrates and crown courts.
Nightingale courts have been set up by the government to deal with the backlog of cases caused by delays due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Last year, Nottingham missed out despite the police offering to hand over the former Hucknall police station and training centre to the court service free of charge.
But during departmental questions in the House of Commons yesterday, Conservative MP for Broxtowe, Darren Henry, asked Justice Secretary Robert Buckland if the Government had plans to open a Nightingale court in Nottingham.
He replied: “I am delighted to let (Mr Henry) know that as a result of the campaigning that he and other Nottinghamshire colleagues have undertaken, we will indeed be opening a Nightingale court in Nottingham before the end of this very month.
“And I agree that adding additional capacity to opening up Nightingales is the key to tackling the higher level of outstanding cases caused by the pandemic.”
Nottinghamshire’s deputy Police and Crime Commissioner, Emma Foody, said long court delays were having “a devastating impact” on victims, witnesses, and defendants, and that people could lose faith in the criminal system as a result.
She added: “It has been an uphill battle to get a Nightingale Court but it is a big relief to know it is finally coming.
“All we know is it is a venue 25-minute walk from Nottingham Railway Station.
“We should know more in the coming days. It is the first Nightingale Court in the East Midlands and it is great for witnesses and victims.” Police and Crime Commissioner Paddy Tipping told the Post: “We have waited a long time for this and I am delighted it has come. It is great news for everyone involved.” The Government announced 14 new Nightingale courts in February to clear a backlog of more than 50,000 cases, including in London and Birmingham, however Nottingham did not make the list. The location of the court confirmed yesterday has not yet been revealed.
It has been an uphill battle but it is a big relief to know it is finally coming.
Emma Foody