A gas leak at Nottingham Crown Court has led to a partial shutdown and the suspension of several court cases, prompting the relocation of prisoners.
Nottingham Crown Court has encountered a significant disruption due to a reported gas leak, leading to a partial shutdown of the facility. The incident has resulted in the suspension of several court cases and the temporary relocation of prisoners in custody to Nottingham Magistrates’ Court.
The situation unfolded when a dock officer alerted the judge in courtroom three about the gas leak, prompting immediate action. The dock officer stated, “I am sorry, your honour, but there has been a gas leak and we are evacuating the docks.” This unexpected announcement led to confusion among those present in the court, with several hearings halted on the spot.
Witnessing the commotion, a barrister expressed astonishment, saying, “After everything that has been happening in this building recently you really couldn’t make it up.” Another court user, who chose to remain anonymous, commented on the uncertainties surrounding the situation: “It’s a gas leak, or at least an alleged gas leak. Who knows what it is?” Furthermore, an additional court user noted, “This building is not that old but seemingly everything is happening to it at the moment. We were only told this morning that courtrooms four and five, which have been shut for two months, are going to be opening again on Monday, but who knows if that will happen or not? We were told things were ‘on the up’ and now this has happened.”
As part of the response to the gas leak, officers were directed to report to the lower court at Carrington Street. Meanwhile, two gas engineers were seen working inside the building to evaluate the situation. As of now, the court has not undergone a complete evacuation, and officials are yet to confirm the nature of the gas leak and its implications.
The Nottinghamshire Live court reporter noted that this incident marks yet another chapter in the ongoing issues faced by the Canal Street facility. Earlier in the year, reports indicated that prisoners were not being transported to the cells due to inadequate heating, causing further delays for those involved in legal proceedings. Additionally, there had been reports about the uncomfortable conditions in courtroom five, where temperatures dropped to around 9°C, and water was observed dripping onto seating areas.
The current event compels many court users to reflect on the challenges that have affected the court’s operations, with Nottinghamshire Live contacting the Ministry of Justice for a response regarding the ongoing issues at Nottingham Crown Court.
Source: Noah Wire Services
- https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ministry-of-justice – For general information about the Ministry of Justice, which might address court operations and facilities like Nottingham Crown Court.
- https://www.judiciary.uk/ – The UK Judiciary website provides information on court procedures and may include updates on significant disruptions.
- https://www.courts üzere.com/uk/nottingham-crown-court – This might offer general information about the court’s location and operations.
- https://www.nottinghampost.com/ – Local news sources like the Nottingham Post often report on incidents affecting local institutions such as Nottingham Crown Court.
- https://www.nottinghamshire.gov.uk/council-and-democracy/council-news-events/news/2023/march – Local council news sources may report on infrastructure issues affecting public buildings.
Noah Fact Check Pro
The draft above was created using the information available at the time the story first
emerged. We’ve since applied our fact-checking process to the final narrative, based on the criteria listed
below. The results are intended to help you assess the credibility of the piece and highlight any areas that may
warrant further investigation.
Freshness check
Score:
10
Notes:
The narrative reports a recent event related to a gas leak at Nottingham Crown Court, with no clear evidence of being an old or recycled story, indicating high freshness.
Quotes check
Score:
5
Notes:
Although direct quotes are provided, there is no clear online source confirming these as original quotes, making it difficult to verify their origin.
Source reliability
Score:
8
Notes:
The narrative originates from a reputable local news outlet (Nottingham Post), which typically provides reliable reporting, though not at the level of national news organizations.
Plausability check
Score:
8
Notes:
The claims of a gas leak and disruptions at the court are plausible given similar recent issues, such as inadequate heating and uncomfortable conditions, suggesting that the narrative could be accurate.
Overall assessment
Verdict (FAIL, OPEN, PASS): PASS
Confidence (LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH): MEDIUM
Summary:
The narrative appears to be fresh and based on a plausible scenario, with quotes that seem genuine but lack verifiable origins. It originates from a local news source that is generally reliable. While some elements cannot be fully verified, there is no strong indication that the narrative is fabricated.
