Cells at York Crown Court could be set for safety upgrades as part of a national improvement drive.
Plans from the Ministry of Justice would see new fire detection equipment installed in nine of the holding cells of the Grade I-listed court building’s Custody Suite.
The ministry’s application stated there were currently no heat or smoke detectors in the basement cells, putting those held there and staff at risk from a possible fire.
Plans lodged with City of York Council come as part of Government efforts to improve fire safety in holding cells and custody suites in courts across the country.
Meanwhile, HM Prison and Probation Service has committed to ensuring all jail accommodation complies with fire safety standards by 2027.
Around 23,000 occupied prison places, a quarter of the country’s total, did not meet fire safety standards as of December 2024, according to the National Audit Office (NAO).
Prisons Minister Lord James Timpson said in March the Government was doing everything it could to ensure prisons are brought up to standard and significant progress had been made.
Plans for York Crown Court would see equipment installed in nine cells along with cables connecting it to a control and alarm panel in the Custody Suite’s Dock Officer’s Room.
The installations would follow a standardised approach set out for works to cells nationally.
York Crown Court was designed by architect John Carr and built in the 1770s.
It was originally known as the Assizes Court and replaced the earlier Jury House built there in the 17th Century.
The court is one of a number of civic buildings in the York Castle complex and is opposite the former Female Prison which now houses the Castle Museum.
Ministry of Justice plans stated the installations would protect the historic fabric of the building.
Plans stated: “The proposed works are to the interior of the building, to provide enhanced fire detection and safety for defendants and custody suite security staff supporting the operation of individual cells, the custody suite and the building as a whole.”
