Issue 146  13th June 2020

'Private firms to lose role in probation services'

The government has scrapped plans to let private firms run behaviour programmes and unpaid work schemes for offenders in England and Wales. Justice Secretary Robert Buckland said the "disruption" caused by coronavirus had led ministers to "reassess" their involvement. He added that renationalising the services would give ministers "greater flexibility" during the crisis.

The firms, known as community rehabilitation companies (CRCs), will no longer be able to bid for the contracts - worth £1.3bn over eight years - from June next year. Responsibility will be transferred to the state-run National Probation Service, which currently supervises high-risk released prisoners and those serving community sentences in England.

The Government's announcement can be read here.

Fast-Track Protest Courts

The Times reported this morning that violent protesters could be jailed within 24 hours after Robert Buckland, the justice secretary, and Priti Patel, the home secretary, drew up plans based on the response to the 2011 London riots.

Anybody caught vandalising, causing criminal damage or assaulting police officers could be quickly processed through magistrates’ courts with extended opening hours.

More Courts for Jury Trials

HMCTS has confirmed that the following seven Crown Courts will resume jury trials next week. These are:

• Swansea Crown Court (15 June)
• Newport Crown Court (15 June)
• Merthyr Tydfil Crown Court (15 June)
• Wood Green Crown Court (15 June)
• Nottingham Crown Court (15 June)
• Bradford Crown Court (16 June)
• Caernarfon Crown Court (17 June)

'Nightingale Courts could open this summer in town halls and universities'

Emergency courts could be set up in empty town halls and universities this summer to help tackle the backlog of work which has rapidly mounted during the coronavirus lockdown.

The Ministry of Justice is looking for buildings around the country which could host so-called ‘Nightingale Courts’, outside of the traditional courthouse settings where social distancing will be easier to accommodate.

It is hoped some alternative venues will be pinpointed this month, with the aim that they can take on court work from August, it has been revealed.

More Courts Reopen

The confirmed sites for reopening on w/c 8 June are:

• Romford Magistrates Court, London
• Barnet Civil and Family Centre, London
• Derby Combined Court, Midlands
• Chesterfield Justice Centre (Chesterfield Court House), Midlands
• Mansfield Magistrates and County Court, Midlands
• Bolton Combined Court – Crown only, Northwest
• Southend County Court, South East
• Horsham Law Courts, South East
• Canterbury Combined Court, South East
• Aylesbury Crown Court, South East
• Portsmouth Magistrates Court, South West
• Salisbury Law Courts, South West
• Swindon Magistrates Court, South West
• Newport Crown Court, Wales
• Merthyr Tydfil Combined Court, Wales
• Llandudno Magistrates Court, Wales

New Prosecutors Work Remotely

More than 100 lawyers have been offered roles at the Crown Prosecution Service since March after digital technology was deployed to overcome challenges posed by the COVID-19 lockdown. New starters have already begun to offer online charging advice to police forces, after completing a virtual induction process, and embedding with managers and teams through video conferences... Following an £85million funding increase last year, the CPS embarked on a campaign to hire 390 new prosecutors, as well as 100 paralegals and administrators, by the end of June.