Night Courts Struggle With England's Rioters

It is the middle of the night and I am waiting outside court number 5 for the next case to commence as courts struggle to process people arrested during days of rioting.

Westminster Magistrates' Court, in the centre of London, is open around the clock, dealing with some of the hundreds of adults and children arrested since the riots began. This is justice fast-tracked.

It is not clear how many cases they will get through - one court worker says they have been told to expect up to 200, but a lawyer tells me it will be closer to 20.

The unusual opening hours bring their own issues, as solicitors and court clerks rush around the corridors trying to locate paperwork and find out whether their clients are in the cells.

It is slow going. By 1am judges have only dealt with six cases.

I approach a group of defence solicitors waiting on the street outside. One of them, Daniel Cavaglieri tells me: "It's unprecedented and I understand it's necessary. Everyone has to pull together".

Another, Euan MacMillan, says getting hold of paperwork has been a struggle.

"There is no back up tonight for either the defence or prosecution teams. This is being done on a threadbare basis. But it's important that due process is done," Mr MacMillan says.

As another prison van arrives with more defendants inside, Keith Vaz MP - the chair of the Home Affairs select committee - heads into the court building.

He told me he wanted to see for himself how cases were being processed, ahead of an emergency committee meeting on Thursday.

Judges also worked through the night in Manchester and Solihull. Late night sittings are the only way to clear the police cells packed with those detained following the widespread trouble on Tuesday night.

It is dark outside but the Westminster court is still in session and will not close during the day - a new team will just take over as they continue to push cases through.

And with the number of arrests across the country creeping ever higher, the courts may have to get used to more late nights to come.