Trial plan worries

8:50am Friday 15th March 2013 in News

Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner Angus Macpherson, Wiltshire’s police and crime commissioner

PROPOSALS to hold most of Wiltshire’s criminal trials in Chippenham could mean extra stresses for victims and witnesses, the Police and Crime Commissioner has said.

HM Courts and Tribunals Service is considering the suggestion which it says will result in cases being dealt with more efficiently and give clerks the ability to list trials on three consecutive days at one courthouse.

Angus Macpherson said: “Most victims and witnesses find appearing in court very stressful and long journey times will only add to that stress, as well as increase the possibility of non-attendance at trials.”

Comments(8)

Compaq says...
9:49am Fri 15 Mar 13

There will be an increase in failures to attend by offenders, so a warrant gets issued etc etc, more cost to the tax payer in trying to locate them. An ill thought out proposal. Keep Swindon as the main hub, I'm sure our courts are busier so why transfer????

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LordAshOfTheBrake says...
1:16pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Sounds like another way of getting less crimes through the criminal justice system so the crime figures drop and the politico's and police can claim lower crime rates.....!

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house on the hill says...
1:27pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Not exactly a surprise. Since when has the PCC ever considered victims or witnesses or justice for that matter. Saving short term money is what its all about these days.

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Tim Newroman says...
2:32pm Fri 15 Mar 13

Criminals are not going to be happy being expected to travel all the way to Chippenham only to be convicted but then told they'll not be sent to prison and have to make their way all the way back to Swindon again.

It's almost certainly going to be against their Human Rights.

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LordAshOfTheBrake says...
5:30pm Fri 15 Mar 13

@House on the Hill

I think you mis-read the article. In this case it looks like the PCC is actually agreeing that the "HM Courts and Tribunals Service" is wrong to do this because of the victims and witnesses.

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house on the hill says...
11:54am Sat 16 Mar 13

After the disgusting let off of the domestic violence case I wouldn't trust those idiots to uphold the law or justice. Hardly surprising no one respects authority these days.

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Tim Newroman says...
12:02pm Sat 16 Mar 13

house on the hill wrote:
After the disgusting let off of the domestic violence case I wouldn't trust those idiots to uphold the law or justice. Hardly surprising no one respects authority these days.
Spot on, Sir.

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Bimbosforjustice says...
4:40pm Sat 16 Mar 13

What the hell does this pompous man actually do again? Apart from draw £90,000 from my back pocket

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