Eight courtrooms have been fitted with wheelchair accessibility and updated technology
The Harrow Crown court has reopened in west London after three years following a £26 million refurbishment, reported the Law Society Gazette.
Reinforced autoclaved aerated concrete had been discovered in the 1991-built building while preliminary work was being conducted on its roof. The structure was regarded unsafe and closed down in August 2023.
During this period, cases were transferred to other courts.
UK courts minister Sarah Sackman said in a statement published by the Gazette that the reopening was “a major boost to London’s overstretched court system, cutting delays and getting justice moving again for Londoners.”
“We inherited a justice system in crisis — backlogs at record levels, courts left to crumble, and victims waiting far too long for justice,” Sackman said.
London victims commissioner Andrea Simon added in a statement published by the Gazette that victims often had a “difficult and trauma-inducing experience” in court after waiting years for hearings.
“The reopening of Harrow Crown Court not only brings some capacity back into the system, but the investment in modernising the court will I hope lead to a better and more supportive experience for victims,” Simon said in the statement.
Sackman and Simon were both present the Harrow Crown court reopening. Eight courtrooms are presently operational; some have also undergone renovations recently.
The courts have been fitted with wheelchair accessibility and updated custom technology. Per the UK justice ministry in a statement published by the Gazette, the venues are “greener, more efficient and flexible enough to handle a wide range of cases.”
In January, Sackman announced the opening of 11 courts across the UK to tackle criminal, family, and civil cases. Court buildings in Fleetwood, Telford, Chichester, and Cirencester that had previously been used as Nightingale courts during COVID-19 were made permanent.
The justice ministry said it was investing £148.5 million into repairing and upgrading of courts in England and Wales.
