New ‘Nightingale Court’ opens at Hull University
It's part of the Government’s plan to ensure justice continues to be served throughout pandemic
Hull University's opened its doors as a ‘Nightingale Court’ joining the national effort to tackle the impact of coronavirus on the justice system.
The new site will be in the recently revamped, Victorian-era Canham Turner building and it will provide an extra courtroom that will hear civil and family cases – providing additional capacity at Hull Combined Crown Court.
Temporary ‘Nightingale’ courts have been set up across the country to enable more socially distanced trials to take place - ensuring justice continues to be served.
This is because more space is required than was previously the case due to the need to keep everyone distanced in the buildings – such as jurors, witnesses, court staff, legal professionals and judges.
Courts Minister, Chris Philp MP, said:
“I am grateful to Hull University for joining the national effort to reduce delays and deliver speedier justice for victims in Humberside.
“This is having a real impact and the number of crown court cases being heard across England and Wales is now back up to what it was before the pandemic struck last Spring. We are also cutting backlogs in the magistrates’ courts where most cases are heard.”
The move forms part of a £110m investment to deliver 40 Nightingale court rooms and funds a range of measures to address the number of outstanding cases.
These efforts will be supported by an extra £337m announced in the recent Spending Review to deliver swifter justice and support victims, while £76m will further increase capacity in family courts and tribunals
Further sites in Staffordshire and Cirencester are expected to open later this month, bringing the total number of temporary court rooms set up nationwide to 40.
These form part of wider measures designed to keep the justice system moving and ensure the quickest possible recovery – including the recruitment of 1,600 more court staff, rolling out further technology, and installing temporary jury rooms across the country to enable more trials to be heard safely.