Shropshire video link hope for court hearings
Talks are taking place over using video technology to avoid transporting defendants out of the Shropshire for remand hearings.
Currently all Shropshire remand hearings take place in Kidderminster, with defendants being taken to the town's magistrates' court once a day on a bus.
The decision to hold hearings outside the county has been the focus of significant criticism since it was made in April last year.
Now the Ministry of Justice has said it is in talks over using video conferencing technology, which would mean defendants and solicitors no longer have to travel to Kidderminster for the hearings.
The news has been welcomed by prominent county solicitor John McMillan, who has been regularly representing clients at Kidderminster since the changes were made.
He said: "I think we would support that. As part of our response when we started off talking about doing remand prisoners in Kidderminster we said the next thing coming down the track was video link so instead of messing around with Kidderminster why not bring the video in and give that a trial."
Mr McMillan said the move would still not bring back local justice – where cases are considered by people from, and in, the area where they have taken place.
Improvement
However, he said it would be an improvement on the current situation where Shropshire defendants have find their own way back if they are released following hearings in Kidderminster.
He said: "It would be an improvement for local justice in some ways. It depends how they do it.
"If they have the video link in a centralised court you are still doing away with local justice but at least you don't have people travelling long distances and if you appear from Telford police station at least you're still in Telford when the hearing is over if you are released.
"It improves the transportation of prisoners so that a way forward."
The Ministry of Justice said the changes have improved the running of courts.
A HMCTS spokesperson said: “Moving remand cases from Telford to Kidderminster Magistrates Court has reduced waiting times significantly, providing a better service for victims, witnesses and defendants.
“The situation is monitored continually and we are working closely with criminal justice agencies, legal professionals and other partners to resolve any concerns raised.”
