The court which goes out of its way to keep criminals out of prison

CARL JACKSON spends a day in Birmingham's unique women's court - a less intimidating forum trying to put low level offenders back on track

- CARL JACKSON

LOW-LEVEL female offenders appearing at Birmingham 'women's court' are being offered intensive supervision and bespoke support packages in a bid to keep them from crime.

The 'Intensive Supervision Court, as it is technically called, was allocated to court 14 at Birmingham Magistrates' Court.

It's a semi-traditional setting with a glass dock, raised platform for the judge to sit and a few rows of wooden benches in front for the lawyers.

Overall, it's a less intimidating environment than the Grade I-listed building's old-fashioned rooms, which have dingy lighting and high-vaulted ceilings.

Things got off to a sluggish start thanks to the infamous morning queue to get into the building.

In short, dozens of people turn up at around the same time... with only one security officer on the door. It can take an hour to get in on bad days.

District Judge Michelle Smith entered the room and immediately flagged the case of Hannah Willis as a priority, because she was expected to bring her baby with her.

Willis stepped into court holding her baby and took her place in the old jury seats to the front left of the room.

Judge Smith reassured her she could step out at any time if her baby became restless.

The 37-year-old, from Kings Heath, had previously pleaded guilty to assaulting an emergency worker in Sandwell on November 10 last year.

Prosecutor Bethany Owen told the court that while drunk Willis 'protested and shouted' at a police constable attempting to arrest her before she repeatedly tried to kick him.

She tried again once in custody and managed to leave a mark and graze on his leg. Willis later said she felt guilty and apologised, the court heard.

In her earlier absence Judge Smith had expressed concerns that she had been assessed as unsuitable for an Intensive Supervision Court (ISC) order.