Newsroom Archive

The decision to centralise remand cases from across the West Mercia Police area to Kidderminster is causing considerable problems.

The council’s deputy leader Councillor Richard Overton has written to Lord Chancellor David Gauke, who is also Secretary of State for Justice.

Overnight remand cases from Telford & Wrekin, Shropshire, Herefordshire and Worcestershire have all been heard in Kidderminster since April.

However, there is only one van to transport prisoners to the court in Kidderminster and anyone who surrenders after 6pm and misses the van is held overnight.

If they are then released without charge, they must then find their own way home but that can lead to them being separated from their families for 36 hours – despite in some instances having not committed a crime.

Councillor Overton said: “This is not a just system and it is leading to problems for victims, witnesses, defendants, solicitors and police officers.

“I strongly urge the Lord Chancellor to reconsider the arrangements that have been put in place as it is patently ridiculous that there is no overnight remand court in a county the size of Shropshire.

“It has led to defendants being held in cells longer than necessary and also led to some people having logistically complex journeys home following their court appearance, which will only add to their stress.

“It also goes against the core principle of local justice for local people and means a more costly system with many cases adjourned in Kidderminster to come back to Shropshire.

“It was much simpler under the old system – defendants could walk from Telford police station to Telford magistrates or be driven to Shrewsbury.”