'No plans' to resume jury trials at Northampton Crown Court despite gradual return in London and Wales

Northampton Crown Court is not on the short list of courts expected to resume criminal trials next week.

All crown courts trials across the country have been suspended since March 23 to prevent the coronavirus spreading "like Russian Roulette" between jury members.

However, yesterday (May 11) the Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett announced new jury trials would begin on May 18 under special arrangements to maintain social distancing.

A ‘limited’ number of trials will take place at the Old Bailey in London and at Cardiff Crown Court.

But this initial rollout will not include Northampton Crown Court.

The court on Lady's Lane has been operating a single courtroom and handling select hearings through video conferencing. Members of the public have not been able to access the building.

Northampton's Magistrates' Court has been able to conduct preliminary hearings and sentences through social distancing and video conferences.

It comes after dozens of cases were adjourned to "mid-June" or simply "a date to be notified due to Covid-19" when the restrictions were announced in March.

The continued lockdown on any new trials beginning could spell severe delays for justice in Northamptonshire over the coming years.

In 2018, the Chronicle & Echo reported how backlogs at Northampton Crown Court were so severe it took average six months longer to jail criminals than the rest of the UK.