Court move for prisoners' privacy

7:59pm Wednesday 14th May 2008

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By Peter Magill »

PRISONERS arriving for hearings at Burnley Crown Court will be allowed more privacy and 'decency' under blueprints drawn up on behalf of justice officials.

Currently defendants, being transported to the Hammerton Street courthouse for trials or sentencing hearings, are transferred to the building via a caged lock-up.

But bosses at Her Majesty's Court Service say the arrangement does not meet legislation surrounding decency' for prisoners.

Proposals have now been drafted by Manchester-based architects DTZ for an alternative brick-built enclosure, where new arrivals would also be shielded by solid metal gates.

Under the redesign the new arrivals bay at the courthouse would also be fitted with a pitched roof - to replace the present flat roof.

Court bosses say that this is also being put in place to meet their design guidelines: any object thrown on the roof of such enclosures will then roll away.

The enclosure must also be built to withstand any potential impact and prevent people being allowed to gaze into the lock-up from outside.

A spokesman for Manchester-based agents DTZ said: "There is currently an existing steel caged (lock-up) which is in a poor condition due to weathering and general wear and tear.

"The very nature of this vehicle lock goes against legislation regarding decency, as the current structure is totally open for the public to view into."

The existing lock-up does not have any facilities for wheelchair access also so any disabled defendants in custody will find their cases transferred to Preston Crown Court instead.

The new arrangments for the Burnley courts will bring it into line with those for Preston's Ringway and Sessions House courthouses, where the prisoner arrival facilities are located within each complex.

Afterwards the new Burnley courthouse enclosure will be slightly higher than the existing structure, but the courts services says the pitched roof will mean there is no loss of light for neighbours.

Mark Briskin, spokesman for HMCS, said: "We have lodged a planning application with Burnley Borough Council to replace the custody gate facilities at Burnley Combined Courts.

"These works will provide an upgraded vehicle dock and improve security facilities to continue to ensure that prisoners can be transferred from vehicles to the main building securely.

"The works will be going to a public tender shortly after planning approval has been granted."

The cost of the works has not been revealed.