News story

Flexible courts to speed up court cases

Dozens of flexible court pilots will speed up cases and help modernise criminal justice services.

This was published under the 2010 to 2015 Conservative and Liberal Democrat coalition government

皇冠体育app Minister made the announcement during a visit to Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Magistrates鈥� court.

Flexible courts will include:

  • Courts to sit outside traditional working hours and on weekends
  • Increased use of video-link technology including prison to court links where suspects can appear in court from prison and from police stations to the court for first hearings
  • 48 pilots to go live in coming weeks across England and Wales

Justice Minister Damian Green said:

鈥榃e want the justice system to respond further and more effectively to the needs of victims, witnesses and the local community.聽 I am extremely pleased that thousands more people up and down the country will benefit from flexible courts in their communities. 聽
鈥淭his is one part of our drive to create a swifter, surer and more flexible justice system for all.鈥�

Cardiff and Vale of Glamorgan Magistrates鈥� court is operating extended hours and uses video-links so suspects can appear in court from the prison where they are held.聽 It held its first Sunday court pilot on 7 October.

Updates to this page

Published 11 October 2012