Custody court cases could no longer be heard in Shropshire

Remand cases from Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire could to be centralised in Kidderminster, following consultation by the courts and tribunal service.

Telford Magistrates Court currently hears all overnight remand cases in Shropshire, since the closure of Shrewsbury Magistrates Court.

In Herefordshire and Worcestershire, these type of cases are currently dealt with at courts in Worcester, Redditch, Kidderminster and Hereford.

But there are now plans to host all such cases for the three at a single court.

Earlier this year, HM Courts and Tribunals Service launched a consultation, which closed at the end of August, with figures favouring the central location as the magistrates court at either Kidderminster or Worcester.

It says the move is to “make the best and most efficient use of available criminal justice agencies’ resources and facilities by centralising overnight remand cases across the week and on Saturdays or Bank Holidays”.

But a recommendation has now been made for Kidderminster to be the home of all remand cases.

It has been criticised across the board by solicitors, with concerns also raised by the Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion.

Solicitors say lawyers, defendants’ families and witnesses all face having to travel much further afield and say the plans could cause court cases to be delayed.

Stephen Scully, associate solicitor advocate at Lanyon Bowdler, said: “If these proposals go ahead it will be probably fatal for the future of a criminal court in Shropshire.

“Once the custody remands have gone, I believe this will inevitably lead to a slippery slope where anybody who is at risk of receiving a custodial sentence will have their case transferred to another court, such as Kidderminster, to save costs and time as prison staff will no longer be required at Telford.

“Eventually I can see the court being only used for summary only trials where there is no risk of a prison sentence.

“It is staggering to think that a county the size of Shropshire will not have its own Magistrates’ Court.

“At the same time money is supposedly being invested in building a new crown court facility at Shrewsbury - what would be the point if there is no Magistrates’ Court work to feed it? Jobs will be lost and money will be wasted.

“On a practical level, it is a two-hour train trip from Gobowen to Kidderminster and more than two hours from Whitchurch.

“Now that the police do not bail suspects, the scenario I envisage of people being arrested on postal requisitions is happening and will only get worse.

“Ultimately the taxpayer picks up the bill of ferrying prisoners up and down the country, so any perceived savings in reducing the courts won’t necessarily work.

“Finally, once a person is arrested, the police, who are already under pressure financially, will have to house prisoners, many of whom are vulnerable or have addiction issues, until the prison van can get to them.

“Nurses and doctors may have to be called to prescribe medication, or prisoners may have to be taken to hospital whilst waiting longer than they would have had to, which all adds up to a major waste of resources.”

Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion added: “I am disappointed that the decision has been made, despite our objections to centralise the remand courts.

“As West Mercia is a large geographic area, I am concerned about the impact it will have on police resources.

“However, I will work with partners to ensure that the new service works and places as little impact on operational effectiveness and efficiency as possible.”

Councillor Ricahrd Overton, deputy leader of Telford & Wrekin Council, said: This decision is bad for Telford and Wrekin and Shropshire.

“It a decision that doesn’t make sense for the victims of crime, witnesses in custody trials, the accused or police officers.

“This was objected to by the police, the council and many court users.

“The Ministry of Justice should intervene to stop the closure and ensure local justice is seen and delivered in Telford and Shropshire.”

The Ministry of Justice has confirmed that Kidderminster is the recommended site and says it will be making the full consultation response public next week.

A number of courts have closed across Shropshire and Mid Wales in the last decade including Oswestry, Newtown, Market Drayton and Ludlow.

Warnings have also recently been raised about the future of Welshpool Magistrates Court, but they have been allayed by the MOJ.