Nightingale Court relief system gets off to an inauspicious start

ONE of the first Nightingale Courts, opened to help tackle the mammoth backlog of criminal cases, got off to a shaky start, when legal files went missing, hearings had to be adjourned and the judge was forced to explain the lack of a dock to confused jurors.

Ten new emergency crown courts have been designated by the Ministry of Justice in a bid to clear some of the hundreds of trials that were halted at the start of lockdown.

Dubbed Nightingale Courts – after the emergency hospitals set up to deal with the pandemic – it is hoped they will provide more capacity for the legal system which is struggling to maintain social distancing rules in jury trials.

But within minutes of the first one opening in London, the usual frustrating delays, familiar to anyone working in the judicial system, were once again evident.

One case was delayed so staff could hunt for lost jury bundles which were said to have been “in quarantine”.

Prospero House, close to London Bridge, is sitting as an extension to Southwark Crown Courts. The building houses three courts and requires jurors, barristers, and staff to wear face masks in the waiting areas but not inside the well of the court.

Barristers at Prospero House were dressed in their usual wigs and robes yesterday morning, but Judge Christopher Hehir was forced to explain the strange surroundings to the jurors.

He told them: “We are – all of us – you and me, pioneers today. Although as you know you were summoned to Southwark Crown Court, we are not physically there. We are here at Prospero House and you’ve been summoned to do your jury service at one of the so-called Nightingale Courts you may have heard about on the news.

“These are buildings other than courts which are enabling trials to take place with social distancing. The room we are in is the courtroom which may feel slightly unfamiliar to those of you who have been in court rooms.

“We will be conducting the trial here and things are set out so we can maintain social distancing throughout the trial. One thing that is rather different is that there is no dock.”

The trial of Ali Hinedy, 20, who is charged with conspiracy to defraud, eventually got going after an hour, when after swearing in the jury, the judge explained the layout of the court.

Judge Hehir told jurors: “You see there is no dock and the defendant is a young man called Ali Hinedy. Would you please stand up, Mr Hinedy?’” he asked the defendant. Mr Hinedy stood up behind a desk next to his lawyers and replied: “Yes, sir.”

Judge Hehir added: “There are no Tannoys… so it is sometimes difficult for ushers to find counsel of the defendant. So, it’s everyone’s individual responsibility to be here because we can’t go looking for you very easily.”