COURT cases could be corrupted by a loss of catering, legal experts have warned.

Food and drink was available at Oxford Crown Court for jurors until the end of last month, when a catering firm’s contract was not renewed by the Government.

Yesterday Gordon Risius, Oxford’s resident judge, warned of the dangers of jurors and defendants being near each other if they all pop off to nearby cafes and shops at lunchtime.

Judge Risius warned jurors ahead of a trial on Wednesday that the loss of the service could cause problems.

Our top stories

He said: “It is a potential problem that concerns us because if everyone is going to Tesco and local cafes, chances are you are going to be standing in the queue or sitting next to someone in the case and people sometimes talk without thinking.”

Stuart Matthews, a barrister and director at Reeds Solicitors in Oxford, said pushed-for-time legal representatives were having to dash out to get food and were often caught up in queues with others from the court.

He said: “This creates an inherently dangerous situation where parties to a case who are otherwise intentionally kept separately may find themselves unexpectedly sharing the same small space inevitably during set times.

“There is no doubt in ours and clearly the judges’ minds that this will result in trials being compromised since it creates a situation where the risk of contamination or confrontation can only be increased.”

And he added: “The cost to the taxpayer of an aborted crown court trial can run to many thousands of pounds. It is yet another prime example of the profound disregard in which our Government holds our justice system. “ It is not clear whether a catering service will be reinstated at the St Aldate’s courthouse.

HM Courts & Tribunals Service spokeswoman Zoe Campbell last night said: “HM Courts & Tribunals Service’s national contract with Eurest for the provision of on-site catering services in Crown Courts expired on August 31.

“HM Courts & Tribunals Service has considered bids from national, regional and local companies to provide services after that date, with a view to getting best value for money.

“Oxford Crown Court is in the process of reviewing options for the provision of catering on-site.

“In the meantime there are shops, cafes and restaurants a short distance from the building which have served court users for many years and arrangements already exist at the court to provide jurors with light refreshments.”

 

 

  • Do you want alerts delivered straight to your phone via our WhatsApp service? Text NEWS or SPORT or NEWS AND SPORT, depending on which services you want, and your full name to 07767 417704. Save our number into your phone’s contacts as Oxford Mail WhatsApp and ensure you have WhatsApp installed.