‘Dock lids’ approved for Blackburn Magistrates’ Court

Steel mesh ‘lids’ on two docks at Blackburn Magistrates’ Court to stop defendants escaping and potentially attacking guards or officials have been given the go ahead.

The Ministry of Justice has been granted Listed Building Consent to make the changes to the 1912 Grade II heritage-listed building.

It has asked Blackburn with Darwen Council has approved with two conditions the ‘installation of new secure dock enclosures within Courts 1 and 2’ at the magistrates’ complex in Northgate.

A planning officer’s report says: “The application site is a Grade II listed building that is located within Blackburn and the Northgate Conservation Area.

“The site is a large, ornate civic building and a number of other Grade II listed buildings are also located nearby.

“The Law Courts and associated Police Station building was constructed in 1912 by Briggs, Wolstenholme and Thornley in sandstone ashlar with a slate roof.

“This application seeks listed building consent for the installation of roofs/lids to secure the existing dock enclosures, and walls around internal stairs connecting the docks to the custody suite below. “The proposed works include the installation of 21.5mm anti-bandit laminated low iron five-ply glazing.

“The glazing would be installed upon a new solid oak capping, over the existing solid stair railing to provide a sacrificial fixing surface.

“Mesh panels would be installed above the dock areas, which would be powder coated in pure white.

“The issue from a heritage viewpoint is whether the proposals would harm the significance of the Grade II listed building.

“The building’s significance lies in its aesthetic, historical and communal context, primarily evidenced in the building’s fabric, architectural form/appearance, and its continual use as a courthouse.

“There are no wider heritage impacts to assess here as the works are limited to the internals of the building.

“Although there will be some additional negative visual impact to the existing modern security measures, it is evident that the current arrangement does not meet the necessary security standard.

“As such, the proposals are adequately justified and any harm caused is outweighed by the benefits of the scheme.”

A supporting statement submitted with the application said: “”The current dock enclosures are not able to provide the required physical protection to prevent determined escape into the wells of the courts and potential access to the well of the court, because they have no ‘lid’ and the stairs being open presents a tangible risk of falling or of guards being thrown down them as part of a bid to incapacitate them.”