A NIGHTINGALE court will open its doors at a Warwick hotel as the push to speed up justice in the midlands gathers pace.
The hotel – located next to the Longbridge roundabout off the M40 – joins other temporary courts in Birmingham, Nottingham, Telford and Wolverhampton – in efforts to deal with a backlog of cases in the region following the impact of Covid-19 on the criminal justice system.
The Delta by Marriott hotel’s conference room usually hosts weddings and receptions but will provide two Crown courtrooms for jury trials involving burglary and drug offences.
The court comes equipped with the latest technology rolled out at speed by HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) during the pandemic.
This means parties in the case can appear remotely by video where appropriate, to avoid any delays to proceedings.
In the event of a guilty verdict, the judge may decide to relist the case at a nearby Crown Court for sentencing where the security is tighter.
Courts Minister James Cartlidge MP said: The new Warwick Nightingale court will provide vital additional courtrooms to give people in the Midlands faster access to justice.
“We have already pumped £14 million into temporary courts across the country to increase capacity and will continue to help the criminal justice system recover from the pandemic, deliver swifter justice and support victims.”
