Meeting with UK policing minister

Police and Crime Commissioner Jeff Cuthbert has joined colleagues from across the UK in a phone conference with the UK’s policing minister, Kit Malthouse, and minister for courts, Chris Philip.

Jeff Cuthbert said: “We impressed upon the ministers that the current lack of normal court services and growing backlog of cases means that victims of crime, and victims of domestic abuse and violence in particular, are being poorly serviced.

“The ministers informed us that they are currently looking at setting up courts in additional buildings that will allow social distancing requirements to be met and allow cases to continue.

“Hopefully this process can be speeded up and we can return to something approaching the normal resumption of court services before too long.”