More Nightingale Courts Spring Up to Slash Trial Delays
The UK is ramping up its pandemic justice response with plans to boost Nightingale courts to 60 by March 2021. These specially set-up courts mainly handle non-custodial Crown Court cases, helping trials stick to social distancing rules.
‘Super Courtroom’ to Tackle Gang and Multi-Defendant Trials
Ministers have unveiled a mega ‘super courtroom’ at manchester-crown-court/" title="Manchester Crown Court" data-wpil-keyword-link="linked">Manchester Crown Court, Crown Square. It’s designed for ‘multi-hander’ cases—complex trials involving multiple defendants like gang murder hearings that demand extra space.
Lord Chancellor Robert Buckland said:
“We have achieved an immense amount in keeping justice moving during the pandemic—restarting jury trials ahead of anyone else, boosting video tech rollout, cutting magistrates’ backlogs, and opening more jury trial courtrooms. These new courts are the next step to minimise delays and deliver justice swiftly for victims, defendants, and the public.”
£113m Boost for Courts and Tribunals
The Nightingale court expansion is part of a £113 million Government injection to ease court pressures. This includes recruiting 1,600 extra staff, upgrading technology, and installing safety measures like plexiglass screens.
This cash tops up a previous £142 million spent on modernising courtrooms and speeding up tech improvements.
- England and Wales lead globally as the first major jurisdiction to resume jury trials.
- Outstanding magistrates’ cases have dropped by over 50,000 since last summer.
- Crown Court case resolutions hit pre-pandemic levels by December 2020, with more jury trial courtrooms now open than ever.
- Remote hearings skyrocketed from 550 weekly in March 2020 to over 20,000 now—a 4000% jump.
Supporting Victims and Protecting the Vulnerable
Keeping courts running during Covid has saved lives. More than 9,000 court orders were issued between April and September 2020 to protect children from female genital mutilation, forced marriage, and domestic abuse.
A recent £40 million scheme funds specialist support for vulnerable victims, including helplines and more counsellors. Plus, the Spending Review confirmed an extra £337 million for faster justice and victim support in 2021/22, with £76 million funnelled into family courts.
Venue Chiefs Welcome Court Space Deals
Caroline Bull, CEO of CCT Venues in London, praised the partnership:
“Supporting HM Courts and Tribunal Service by hosting two Nightingale courtrooms at our Barbican site is a win-win. It boosts team morale, saves jobs, and keeps us connected in tough times.”
Dominic James, Venues Director at etc. venues, noted their Maple House venue in Birmingham joins London’s Prospero House to help tackle trial backlogs. “While event bookings are down, these contracts keep us busy and serve a vital public need,” he added.
