Coventry Crown Court future under threat

[dutchman]

Coventry could lose its Crown Court and prosecution offices in a major shake-up of the city’s criminal justice system, the Telegraph understands.

The Crown Court faces being downgraded to a part-time County Court dealing solely with civil and family matters, with all serious criminal cases heard at Birmingham Crown Court and Leamington Justice Centre instead, sources say.

Some fear the move is already underway, with fewer trials being booked in, one of the three courtrooms no longer being used for criminal hearings and the historically busy Friday sessions noticeably quieter.

It is not yet known what implication such a move could have on jobs at the court.

Coventry Magistrates Court would not be affected by the changes.

Meanwhile the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is considering axing its city centre HQ at Friars House, with staff transferring to either Birmingham or Droitwich.

A CPS spokesman told the Telegraph: “That is one of a number of options being considered at the moment, but no decision has been made over offices being closed.

“We are currently consulting with unions and staff. We are in the very early stages.”

The government is keen to streamline the legal system to save money.

Last year the number of courts in England and Wales was slashed from 530 to 388 – including Rugby Magistrates Court and County Court, and Stratford County Court – to save £42 million a year.

The only magistrates and county courts in Warwickshire are now at the new justice centres in Leamington and Nuneaton, which serve the whole county between them.

A spokesman for the FDA union, which represents CPS workers, said: “The CPS, in common with other government departments in these times of austerity, is looking at its estate to see where savings can be made.

“There is always immense concern among people when their personal and work lives are being changed.”

The Ministry of Justice was unavailable for comment.

[Spuffler]

With G4s doing the policing, there won't be a need for crown court! They won't catch anybody.......

[dutchman]

Coventry Crown Court 'going part time'

MORE details have emerged of a major shake-up at Coventry Crown Court.

As previously reported by the Telegraph, the 25-year-old court building faces losing much of its criminal workload to family and civil matters.

We now understand criminal cases will only be heard for two weeks each month, starting from the end of September.

A senior source said there would be a “change in arrangements” at the court from that time, leaving Leamington Justice Centre and Birmingham Crown Court to handle most cases.

At Coventry, fewer trials are already being booked in, one of the three courtrooms is no longer used for criminal hearings and the normally busy Friday sessions are noticeably quieter.

Coventry Magistrates Court would not be affected by the changes.

The Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) is also considering axing its city centre HQ at Friars House, with staff transferring to either Birmingham or Droitwich.

The government is keen to streamline the legal system to save money.

Last year the number of courts in England and Wales was slashed from 530 to 388 – including Rugby Magistrates Court and County Court, and Stratford County Court – to save £42million a year.

The only magistrates and county courts in Warwickshire are now at the new justice centres in Leamington and Nuneaton, which serve the whole county between them.