Question to the Ministry of Justice:

To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what plans his Department has to introduce Nightingale courts with secure docks.

We have added vital capacity by opening 16 Nightingale courts to provide 29 extra court rooms, 10 of which are being used for non-custodial jury trials. These additional courtrooms free up room in existing courts to hear criminal cases such as jury trials that need the cells and secure dock facilities that our existing courts can provide.

We are considering further Nightingale courts, including sites that can potentially provide for custodial cases, however no final decisions have been made. HMCTS will engage with prisoner escort services on any proposed custodial facilities, to ensure that all security and safety requirements are met.

The HMCTS Criminal Courts Recovery Plan has been published, and can be accessed here: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/court-and-tribunal-recovery-update-in-response-to-coronavirus.

Non-secure work can move from existing Crown Courts and Nightingale Courts, freeing up secure space for criminal trials.