MP calls for review of Shropshire to Kidderminster remand system
An MP has called on the Ministry of Justice to review a controversial policy that sees county defendants bussed to Kidderminster for court hearings.
Philip Dunne, MP for Ludlow, has written to Lucy Frazer QC MP, at the Ministry of Justice, to call for an "extensive" review of the centralised remand hearings system that has been in place since April last year.
The policy has been heavily criticised by solicitors over the length of time defendants are spending in custody, with many held overnight and taken to Kidderminster for the hearings, instead of taking place at Telford Magistrates Court on the same day as under previous arrangements.
People arrested, and facing remand hearings, after the bus has left county police stations in the morning are now held until the next day, when they are taken to court in Kidderminster.
Apology
The Ministry of Justice apologised earlier this year when it was revealed that it had provided incorrect figures to Mr Dunne regarding the amount of people held overnight.
Her Majesty's Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) had said that only 20 prisoners were held overnight for transport to Kidderminster from April to June.
However, a Freedom of information request from a group of Shropshire solicitors revealed that the actual number was 84.
Now Mr Dunne has asked for an official investigation into the policy.
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He said: "I have called for a review of the way remand cases are heard in Shropshire.
"This follows concerns from the public and local solicitors about the consequences of the recent introduction by the Ministry of Justice of a new policy for all remand prisoners in the West Midlands area to be handled out of Kidderminster Magistrates’ Court.
"These included concerns about the capacity of Kidderminster to cope, and the impact on dependants and their families given the distances involved from all parts of Shropshire to Kidderminster and poor transport links."
Mr Dunne said he wanted the review of the operation to look at the costs to all elements of the justice system in Shropshire.
He has also asked about the possibility of using video technology to host the hearings in Telford, and avoid transporting prisoners.
Last month the Ministry of Justice also apologised after it was revealed that a man who breached bail on a domestic violence charge by assaulting a witness was not dealt with by the court because his case was not heard in time – despite him being arrested nearly 24 hours earlier.
An urgent investigation was carried out in to the case and the courts service said it was down to "poor communication", with all those involved being "made clear of their responsibilities".
