GLOUCESTERSHIRE’s ‘Nightingale Court’, which had been set up at Cirencester to ease the backlog of criminal cases caused by the Covid pandemic, is to be extended, a judge announced on Friday (November 18).

The Recorder of Gloucester, Judge Ian Lawrie KC told court staff and advocates that his application to have the facility extended beyond March 31, 2023, had been approved.

The Cirencester Courthouse, which has two courtrooms, adjoins the town’s main police station The Ministry of Justice has now accepted there is an ongoing need for the Cirencester courthouse to be used and negations were had with the owner of the building Chris Nelson, Gloucestershire’s Police and Crime Commissioner to enable the operation to continue for a further year until the end of March 2024.

Judge Lawrie said: “In light of the current financial climate, this extension is a remarkable achievement, and it greatly takes the pressure off the court and its staff.

“We will be able to bring down the backlog of cases to a manageable number.”