Reading Crown Court Reading Better Online
To counter these pressures, Reading Crown Court has implemented a .
: Under the principle of "Open Justice," the court now allows members of the public and press to apply for remote observation of certain hearings, provided they apply in advance. Long-Term Improvements and Expansion reading crown court reading better
: One courtroom is specifically allocated to these expedited hearings, preventing them from being buried under more complex, long-term trials. To counter these pressures, Reading Crown Court has
: The court has six permanent courtrooms but frequently relies on adjacent Magistrates' Courts or satellite venues like Cheshunt and Watford to manage the volume. : The court has six permanent courtrooms but
: The program focuses on "short bail cases"—offenses where the evidence indicates a high likelihood of resolution without a full trial.
Beyond the procedural "Reading Better" pilot, physical redevelopments are underway to ensure the facility remains fit for purpose:
: Crucially, this initiative is designed to operate alongside high-priority cases. It does not reduce the court's capacity to list trials involving children, serious sexual offenses, or defendants in custody within the standard 12-month window. Navigating Reading Crown Court