Chesterfield Magistrates' Court poised to re-open to deal with Derbyshire cases backlog

The vast majority of the nation’s courts have been closed since March but some Derbyshire hearings have continued virtually, with all venues shuttered.

As a result, Hardyal Dhindsa, Derbyshire’s police and crime commissioner (PCC), says there is now an ‘emergency’ unfolding and he has called for temporary ‘Nightingale courts’ to be set up.

In Derbyshire alone there are more than 1,000 court cases either delayed indefinitely or at risk of postponement – leaving justice for the victims unserved.

During a virtual meeting of the police and crime panel last week, hosted by Derbyshire County Council, councillors suggested the use of defunct former facilities like the court in in Buxton could become Nightingale facilities to work alongside courts like Chesterfield.

During the meeting, Coun Julie Patten, a member of both Derbyshire County Council and South Derbyshire District Council, said: “Burton court is actually closed and not being used and neither is Chesterfield.

“Surely those would be the main ones to be looking at in the immediate future and should have probably been looked at before now to reopen and use for the cases.

“I do find that a little disappointing, they have been shut since March and we are only now just looking at it – it’s a bit slow isn’t it?”

Mr Dhindsa replied: “I totally agree with you, PCCs up and down the country have been trying to raise this for the last six to eight weeks and it is only in the last two weeks that the Ministry of Justice has recognised the emergency of the backlog of court cases.”

“Chesterfield is being looked at to be reopened and they have already got plans there to get moving again and to be used and I have also heard about Burton courts not being used.

Following the meeting, Mr Dhindsa said: “I am looking at all options including others that have been suggested by Chesterfield Borough Council and they are still being looked through.

“Chesterfield (Magistrates’) is definitely on the cards to be reopened and the court staff are working towards doing that – with social distancing and all the regulations it will not be at full capacity, these buildings are not built to do that.

“I will look at any options to help increase capacity, including Buxton and Burton.”