Alarm Failure Brings Justice To A Halt

Crown Court brought justice grinding to a halt today.

It is understood a technical fault with the Affray alarm system which was installed over the weekend meant there would be no way of calling for help in the event of an emergency in one of the six court rooms.

Extra security staff were drafted in to stand in the dock with defendents in some courts but a number of trials and other cases had to be adjourned.

Senior Judge Zoe Smith, sitting in number two court, said: “It has been a disastrous morning. It is unfortunate that they did not have someone to oversee it this morning."

Engineers were called out to fix the problem and normal service is expected to resume tomorrow..

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