One solicitor said their court was forced to close because dead seagulls were rotting in the roof insulation and because maggots ‘were literally raining down onto the lobby’

Britain’s courts are in a “shambolic state” with mould, rotting seagulls and cells regularly flooded with poo, a grim report has warned.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of solicitors reported delays in cases being heard in the past year due to the state of the courts, the Law Society found.

Clients and victims were left in limbo and denied access to justice with many at risk of losing jobs, facing insecure housing situations and wasting both time and money, the report said.

One solicitor told the report that their court in South Shields was forced to close because dead seagulls were rotting in the roof insulation and because maggots “were literally raining down onto the lobby”.

Others reported crumbling RAAC concrete, asbestos, and dilapidated toilets.

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One in five respondents (20%) said the technology in the courts was “not at all” fit for purpose. Reported issues included poor quality remote hearings, software problems and a lack of working plug sockets in both conference rooms and the courts.

Solicitors with a disability were significantly more likely to find the physical state of the courts “not at all fit” for purpose (45%) compared to those with no disability (25%). This is due to limited accessibility in court buildings such as an absence of ramps and working lifts.

Law Society president Richard Atkinson said: “The poor state of court buildings across England and Wales is both a contributor to the huge backlog of court cases and an illustration of the woeful lack of investment in our justice system.

“By targeting investment effectively and applying technology, we can ensure that everyone has access to justice, without unacceptable delays, in courts that are truly fit for purpose.”

A Ministry of Justice spokeswoman said: “This Government inherited a justice system in crisis but is working flat out to ensure our courts and tribunals are safe, secure, and equipped with the latest technology.

“We have already boosted capital funding to £148.5million and carried out around one million maintenance visits this year to make our buildings become fit for everyone who uses them.”

Under the law seagulls and their nests are not allowed to be interfered with between March and September.

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