Shaun Davies MP welcomes permanent status for Telford Nightingale Court

Shaun Davies MP has welcomed the news the Government have confirmed they will make the temporary ‘Nightingale Court’ into a permanent facility. Shaun has praised this decision, calling it a “massive boost to our ailing justice system.”

The move follows sustained campaigning by Shaun since his election to secure urgent reforms and increased capacity for Telford and Shropshire’s overstretched courts.

Shaun brought Courts Minister Sarah Sackman to Telford to highlight the scale of local challenges and press the case for long-term investment to ensure the justice system delivers effectively for local people in Telford.

He said: “This is fantastic news for Telford. For too long, victims and families have faced unacceptable delays while waiting for their day in court. Making the Nightingale Court permanent will increase capacity, speed up cases, and help restore confidence in our justice system locally.

I have consistently raised the urgent need for investment in our courts, and I am pleased the Government has listened. This decision will make a real difference to people across Telford and the wider Shropshire area.”

The Government has also unveiled the Courts and Tribunals Bill to tackle delays that deny justice to victims and survivors. The Bill strengthens magistrates’ powers to hear more cases, removes defendants’ ability to choose their court to cause delays, and streamlines the appeals process. Alongside record court investment and lifting the cap on sitting days, these reforms will help build a faster, more effective justice system fit for the future.

Nightingale Courts like that in Telford were opened across the country during the Covid pandemic due to social distancing rules, and many remained open after the pandemic to ease the court backlog.  Most closed over time, with only four left open: in Telford, Chichester, Cirencester and Fleetwood.

This commitment follows the successful completion of roof repairs at Telford Justice Centre, secured after Shaun Davies MP invited Courts Minister Sarah Sackman MP to visit the Centre in 2025. During the visit, the Minister saw first-hand the impact the damaged roof had been having on court capacity and the delivery of justice locally, prompting action to address the issue.

The Government has already announced a £148.5m investment in repairing and upgrading courts across the country, and funding for a record 111,250 court sitting days this financial year. Shaun Davies has previously pointed out in Parliament, however, that this investment will only benefit Telford if it has the physical capacity for trials to happen.

Shaun is also calling for the introduction of long service awards for magistrates across England and Wales, recognising their vital contribution to the justice system, commenting: “Magistrates are the unsung heroes of our justice system. Many give up their time for over 20 or even 30 years to serve their communities. It is only right that their service is recognised formally and publicly.”