Christchurch earthquake: Relocated courts may be back in business soon

Christchurch's courts have been busy moving from the central city following Tuesday's 6.3 magnitude quake and may be back in operation soon.

Only immediate arrest courts have been running after the quake left the Court House area damaged and cut off inside the central city cordon, the Christchurch Court News website reported.

Arrest courts have been held in the watchhouse below the Christchurch Central Police Station, with a judge, registrars, duty solicitors, police prosecutors and reporters working in what is usually the line-up room.

The courts have now taken over a warehouse at Sockburn and the vital computer system has been set up there for staff.

Staff may be working out of there from tomorrow but the facilities do not include any temporary court rooms. Christchurch usually has 14 courtrooms and sometimes drafts more rooms into business in nearby buildings.

Another makeshift court session will take place in the police watchhouse on Monday but from Tuesday it is planned to have the Christchurch cases called in the Rangiora District Court.

- NZPA