- Green light for prison vans to beat traffic and keep courts
moving
- Journey times slashed by a third in boost for court
efficiency
- Part of the Government's plan to deliver swifter justice for
victims
Councils in cities plagued by congestion have been urged to grant
prison vans access to bus lanes, helping defendants reach court
on time and preventing avoidable disruptions that can leave
victims waiting longer for justice.
More than 1,000 court cases were delayed on the day they were
meant to go ahead last year because defendants failed to reach
court on time, wasting court capacity and causing devastation for
victims.
One route already operating between HMP Forest Bank and
Manchester Crown Court has cut journey times by up to a third,
showing how simple changes can keep cases moving and help deliver
swifter justice for victims.
Courts Minister, KC MP said:
Victims should not be left waiting because a defendant is stuck
in traffic. Giving prison vans access to priority bus lanes is a
simple but practical idea that could save valuable time.
Common-sense changes like this help court staff get on with the
job and help victims see the swifter justice they deserve.
Following other successful roll outs in Bristol, Salford and
Nottingham, the Government has written to all local authorities
in a push for wider adoption of the scheme nationwide.
The call to action comes as the Government steps up plans to cut
the record Crown Court backlog of 80,829 cases.
Prison vans, known formally as the Prisoner Escort and Custody
Service, facilitate around 350,000 prisoner movements to court
every year, making it a critical part of keeping the justice
system running.
To support their work, the Government has also established a new
Prisoner Delivery Oversight Board, chaired by Ministers, bringing
together key partners from across the criminal justice system to
identify and tackle the causes of delays, and hold providers to
account
