The introduction of video-link court remands in Belfast is expected to save Northern Ireland taxpayers over £1 million a year.
The Prison Service pays the RUC for escorting up to 25,000 remand prisoners to and from courts every year, often for hearings which last a few minutes. The pilot scheme introduced at Belfast Magistrates' Court is intended to end this procedure. Yesterday three young prisoners were remanded via a TV link-up with the Young Offenders Centre.