A CONTROVERSIAL virtual court system has been offically launched in the borough.

The system, launched by Justice Ministers Bridget Prentice and Claire Ward, allows cases to be heard within hours of charging via a video link between Lewisham police station and Camberwell Green Magistrates’ court.

Defendants appear online from the station, with the magistrates or judge and other staff based at the court.

Chief Inspector Simon Davis from Lewisham Police says five cases have already been dealt with via the system for charges including burglary, possession of an offensive weapon and assault.

He said one took just three hours from charge to sentence and also has the benefit of freeing up some of the station’s 33 cells.

It is claimed that the scheme, now also live in Plumstead, could save £2.2m across London a year.

Lewisham East MP Ms Prentice said: “It’s much better for the defendant but even more importantly, it’s much better for the victim because they will have seen justice done and done quickly.”

Cases involving youth offenders and vulnerable adults must still be dealt with in the normal way.

But the initiative has been questioned by the Law Society, which says it could cause problems with giving defendants legal advice in time and raises issues over solictors’ safety in the absence of dock officers.

Society legal aid manager Richard Miller said: “The society has grave concerns over the safety of its members - under this scheme defendants will be sat in a small room right next to their solicitor.”

But Ms Prentice said: “Looking at the system that we have here then I’ve got no fears at all about safety. I think everything had been dealt with in a very responsible fashion.”