A special domestic abuse court has dealt with 168 cases in its first month of operation. It has been set up at Warrington Magistrates' Court after a pledge by the Chief Constable of Cheshire to tackle a backlog of alleged domestic violence crimes.
The court began on April 4 after being delayed due to the coronavirus pandemic. Any case where there is a charge for a domestic abuse offence will be heard and will remain there unless a trial is required. It helps to ensure consistency in how cases are prepared and dealt with.
A dedicated police officer with specialist knowledge and skills is based at the court to liaise with the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) and police to ensure that there are no issues that could risk delaying the case, causing it to be re-listed or deferred to a later date.
