Hi All,

The latest news is that the Court will not be open tomorrow, the position for Wednesday is under review.

Overnight charges will be listed at Westminster, not Hendon as it was today. I am not sure what will happen to 2nd bail app custody cases, they will not be brought to Camberwell, that much is certain, but there is potential for them to be taken elsewhere by surprise, given that it will be unlawful for the prison to hold them more than 7 days. The thinking is that it will be at Westminster, so you should check with the cells there.

Bail cases including trials will be turned politely away from the door with a bail enlargement notice. In view of the confusion it is likely that Defendants who do not turn up at all will be given the benefit of the doubt and re-bailed, but personally, I would advise them to go in case a warrant is issued by mistake - it will still be a technical FTA otherwise.

You should make sure you can contact bail defendants, given the chaos, finding out a bail enlargement date from the court staff will be problematic - the phones at Camberwell are still down.

Duty Solicitors will not be obliged to attend - that's official.

Croydon is now also flooded and closed today but I have no special sources of information on that but it is hoped to be open tomorrow - at least their phones are working.

This is beginning to sound like sabotage - can we sure that a rogue Defence Solicitor has not been leaving the taps on?

Bruce Reid