Calls for ‘crumbling’ Nottingham Crown Court to be pulled down

One trial went ahead at the crown court on Thursday, but others were moved, where feasible, to the magistrates’ court off Carrington Street. Other trials have been delayed.

It comes as courts across the country are already facing major backlogs.

After the crack appeared at the crown court, a large tarpaulin was placed underneath and temporary barriers put in place.

Soubry, head of chambers at KCH Garden Square in Nottingham, called on the government to “admit you are flogging a dead horse”.

“The situation is dire and the building is, in effect, unusable,” she said.

“It’s been barely fit for purpose for a very long time.

“The sooner we get out of it and pull it down, the better. Millions are being thrown at it but it isn’t fit for purpose.”

The court had a £14m upgrade to help fix “long-standing maintenance issues” and reduce delays.

But barristers said the situation remains challenging.

Soubry, who was the MP for Broxtowe from 2010 to 2019, said: “It’s really tough, because they’re trying to make good years of underfunding, and I put my hands up to that.

“We should have properly funded the criminal justice system. At least I am one of those who had the courage to come back to the bar and face the critics.

“I’ve been appalled coming back to the bar to see the real-life state the criminal justice system is in.”