STAFF at Warrington Magistrates' Court are appealing for immediate action to improve security after gunmen freed two prisoners from a court in Slough.

The Association for Magisterial Officers, which represents the staff, is calling for metal detectors to be installed and trained security staff to protect the premises and its occupants.

Members are quick to point out that while the town's crown court has scanning equipment and security staff controlling access to the building, the magistrates' court does not.

Spokesman Rosie Eagleson said: "The contrast between the priority that is given to security in a magistrates' court and that afforded to the higher criminal courts could not be greater or more inappropriate.

"The overwhelming majority of cases dealt with by the higher courts begin life in a magistrates' court and an equivalent level of screening and trained security staff is essential if staff, magistrates and the public are not to be subjected to unnecessary risks and avoidable dangers."

Justices' chief executive Colin Turner said: "This will be high on the agenda for our health and safety committee.

"What happened at Slough was a terrible, frightening incident and we will be talking about how to guard against it. But it's a matter of balancing the risks against the costs involved."

Staff also say they fear that security in the Arpley Street courts could even be reduced under new money-saving plans.

But Mr Turner said: "We are looking at whether we can offer the same level of security but at a lower cost.

"This could be by doing our own security, but we wouldn't be asking non-security people to do it. It would be a new role and people would be trained for it."

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