Justice being undermined – police head

HEREFORDSHIRE’S decision not to invest in the Shirehall in Hereford undermines justice in the county, the region’s head of policing has said.

The grade II* listed building in the city’s St Peter’s Square houses two courts and a “custody suite”, but these have been out of use since part of the ceiling collapsed in June 2020.

West Mercia police and crime commissioner John Campion said Herefordshire “needs suitable and fully functioning court facilities”.

“The current lack of a crown court denies all parties access to the justice they deserve,” he said.

“For victims, that means prolonging the emotional impact and harm of crime. For offenders, it means they can successfully avoid justice, potentially for years, before going to trial.”

Last week Herefordshire Council’s cabinet voted to put on hold any decision on the future of the building due the financial pressure it is under.

But council leader Cllr David Hitchiner said in the meeting:

“It’s vitally important for us as a county that we have a judicial facility such as this.”