Shropshire Star

Remand move for Shropshire upheld

The government has defended a decision to switch remand hearings to a court outside Shropshire, claiming more trials can now be held as a result.

Published

The comments come in a letter from Lucy Frazer QC MP, the parliamentary under-secretary at the Ministry of Justice, responding to Councillor Richard Overton, deputy leader of Telford & Wrekin Council.

He had written to Justice Minister, David Gauke, calling on him to reverse a decision to move remand hearings from Telford Magistrates Court to Kidderminster.

There has been a host of criticism over the switch.

In her letter Ms Frazer dismissed concerns about difficulties for families attending.

She said: "Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service has confirmed that it is extremely rare for family members to attend such hearings, and rarer still for victims and witnesses to attend them, or indeed any pre-trial hearings – these are short appointments which do not hear their evidence and consider only whether a person is granted bail or held on remand."

Ms Frazer said that the situation was being monitored but had so far meant that more trial days could take place in Telford.

She said: "Telford now sits an additional eight trial courts per month and can provide earlier trial return dates, allowing them to dispose of cases more quickly; and, therefore, to support victims and witnesses better by reducing the traumatic waiting time before trial.

"The decision to centralise remands in Kidderminster was made so that exactly these kinds of improvements and efficiencies could be made in the three counties it covers. In particular, it aimed to address the issues of trial delays and effectiveness.

"The latest data, as was considered by the Midlands Judicial Business Group , confirms that trial delays have significantly reduced and that an improved service is being provided to victims and witnesses, so I do not agree that it was a decision motivated by savings."

Ms Frazer also said the courts service was providing a room for solicitors to work in to cut down on inconvenience and is considering whether video links could be used so that defendants do not have to travel from Telford to Kidderminster.

She said: "The courts service is aware of the issues faced by defence solicitors, and in particular the increased travel time and costs in comparison to firms closer to the actual courthouse. To help alleviate these issues, it has provided a room for legal professionals to work from should they have to wait between cases, which will reduce the cost of return journeys."

She added: "Longer term, the service is working with partner agencies to explore the opportunity to use police station to court video links to enable remand hearings to be heard outside the courtroom.

"These will remove the need for transportation to court, by allowing both the defendant and his advocate to appear by live links. This will take time and investment, but I can confirm that discussions have take place and that this is an option that the service is exploring with the West Mercia Police and Crime Commissioner."