Shropshire Council leader joins call for remand courts rethink
A third council leader has added his voice to calls to scrap changes to Shropshire's remand court hearings.
Councillor Peter Nutting, leader of Shropshire Council, said it would be "more sensible" for remand hearings to take place in the county, and not in Kidderminster as under the current arrangements.
There has been increasing pressure over the decision to switch the hearings to a venue outside the county, with Telford & Wrekin Council following Hereford Council in writing to the Lord Chancellor asking for the changes to be reversed.
Earlier this week Councillor Nutting joined Telford & Wrekin councillors in meeting the Justice Minister, David Gauke, where they pressed for a re-think.
Councillor Nutting said: "I agree with my counterparts at Telford & Wrekin and Herefordshire councils on this matter.
"Moving all remand hearings to Kidderminster means people from Shropshire are now having to make lengthy, often difficult journeys to get to court, when it would surely be much more sensible and better for everyone for such hearings to be held within the county.
"I’m pleased that the Justice Secretary has this morning agreed to keep this situation under review, and I hope that the Ministry of Justice will reconsider these arrangements in the near future.”
Currently all the county's remand hearings take place at Kidderminster Magistrates Court, instead of at Telford Magistrates court as previously.
Those appearing in the cases are taken to Kidderminster from Shropshire on a bus, which leaves police stations in the county once a day.
Anyone arrested pending a remand appearance after the bus has left is kept in custody until the following day.
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A number of Shropshire solicitors have been heavily critical of the changes, arguing that it has tied up police resources, and led to defendants travelling long distances for hearings which can be finished in a matter of minutes.
Other concerns have also been raised over the difficulties posed for defendants in getting home after the hearings.
Speaking during his visit to Telford on Wednesday, Mr Gauke said the situation was being monitored.
He said: "These were reforms made after considerable consultation, and we will continue to look at the evidence.
"We will monitor it to see how the new arrangements are working in terms of court delays."
It came after Councillor Richard Overton sent a letter to Mr Gauke on behalf of Telford & Wrekin Council.
It said: "It also goes against the core principle of local justice for local people and means a more costly system with many cases adjourned in Kidderminster to come back to Shropshire.
“It was much simpler under the old system – defendants could walk from Telford police station to Telford magistrates or be driven to Shrewsbury.”
In response a HM Courts and Tribunal Service spokesperson said: “Following a public consultation, remand cases were moved from Hereford to Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court to improve listings and trial management at Hereford.
“We have given key agencies and professional court users the opportunity to share their views about how these changes are working in practice and will respond to Councillor Overton shortly.
“We are investing over £1 billion to reform and modernise the justice system – to deliver swifter justice and provide better value for the taxpayer.”
