Shropshire courts row: New system is 'universally unpopular'
Mounting pressure must lead to a re-think over "universally unpopular" remand court changes in Shropshire, says a county solicitor.
Stephen Scully, a solicitor with Lanyon Bowdler, called for the Ministry of Justice to listen to the growing calls for remand hearings to be switched back to Shropshire.
He said: "All of these people have come out, I see other professional court users on a daily basis; magistrates, the police, probation, and although they have not been allowed to comment on it the feeling seems unanimous to me that everyone would support a return to Shropshire."
The comments come after both Telford & Wrekin Council and Shropshire Council called on the Lord Chancellor to reverse the switch to Kidderminster Magistrates Court from Telford.
Their voices were added to those of the region's police and crime commissioner, John Campion, and Herefordshire Council in pressing for an end to the centralised remand hearings.
Mr Scully added: "We think that would not only save time and money, it is also quite staggering that a county the size of Shropshire does not have its own remand court."
The system, which sees all of West Mercia's remand hearing held at Kidderminster Magistrates Court, has been criticised for a number of reasons.
A number of solicitors have been heavily critical of the changes, arguing they have 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.
A letter from Councillor Richard Overton, the deputy leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, to the Department of Justice said the system is not providing local justice.
He said: “This is not a just system and it is leading to problems for victims, witnesses, defendants, solicitors and police officers.
Ridiculous
“I strongly urge the Lord Chancellor to reconsider the arrangements that have been put in place as it is patently ridiculous that there is no overnight remand court in a county the size of Shropshire.
“It has led to defendants being held in cells longer than necessary and also led to some people having logistically complex journeys home following their court appearance, which will only add to their stress.
“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 to Councillor Overton the Ministry of Justice said they had been assessing how the changes have worked.
Andrew Hamilton, a HM Courts and Tribunal Service spokesman 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.”
