The City of London Corporation has celebrated the ‘topping out’ of the new flagship courts building at Salisbury Square, which will boost capacity in the criminal justice system to support the fight against fraud, economic and cyber crime.
Alongside this, the £600 million complex, funded by the City of London Corporation, will be the new Headquarters for the City of London Police (COLP), providing state of the art accommodation for the force to carry out its unique and vital service as the National Lead Force (NLF) for fraud.
The development’s dedicated focus on fraud will mean faster outcomes for victims, greater confidence for businesses, and a stronger deterrent for criminals – helping the justice system keep pace with the scale and complexity of financial crime in the UK.
Delivered by the City Corporation, with architecture by Eric Parry Architects and construction led by Mace Construct, the courts building will house 18 courtrooms dedicated to economic and cyber crime cases, consolidating the Square Mile’s existing civil and magistrates’ courts into a single, purpose-built facility.
The Salisbury Square project will strengthen the UK justice system, as well as the City’s reputation as a world-leading location to do business, supporting ‘Destination City’, the City Corporation’s growth strategy for the Square Mile. It also forms part of wider and ongoing development along Fleet Street and in addition to the City of London Law Court and the new City of London Police headquarters, the Salisbury Square development will provide:
- A new commercial building offering much needed, sustainable Grade A office space
- The transformation of a listed building into a new hospitality venue; and
- A new public square with enhanced green and open spaces, walking routes, and views to the spire of St Bride’s Church.
Policy Chairman of the City of London Corporation, Chris Hayward, said: “By speeding up the handling of complex cyber crime and fraud cases, this new justice quarter will deliver faster outcomes for victims, free up vital capacity across the courts, and strengthen public confidence in our ability to tackle economic crime.
“Fraud is the most common crime in the UK, and it is growing in scale and complexity. The Salisbury Square Development represents a once-in-a-generation investment in our justice system, ensuring we have the modern facilities, cutting-edge technology, and specialist expertise needed to respond.
“This is about safeguarding the integrity of the UK’s financial sector, protecting people and businesses across the country, and sending a clear message that fraudsters will be brought to justice.”
Chairman of the City Corporation’s Capital Buildings Board, Alastair Moss, said: “No other police force has the in-house expertise, industry contacts and scalability to replicate COLP’s specific focus on tackling fraud.
“The building of dedicated space to house the City of London Police at Salisbury Square is a prime example of the wide-ranging support the City Corporation is able to offer, including financial support that does not come from the public purse. This includes millions of pounds of investment that simply would not exist without COLP’s National Lead Force (NLF) status, especially amid straitened public finances.”
Minister for Courts and Legal Services, Sarah Sackman KC MP, said: "This world-class building is at the forefront of a new generation of state-of-the-art courts. We are taking advantage of new technology to deliver swifter justice for victims.
“Courts like these, in the heart of our capital, showcase our commitment to justice and why London is a global leader in legal services, driving economic growth."
Rob Lemming, Managing Director for the Public Sector and Life Sciences, Mace Construct, said: “Topping out the new City of London Law Courts is a proud moment and a reflection of the team’s skill, creativity and dedication. Building in secure environments brings unique challenges, and it’s been inspiring to see those met with care and innovation.
“Designed with a 125-year lifespan, this facility will not only support justice and resilience in the City, but stand as a civic landmark for generations to come.”
The City of London Police has a long-established public-private partnerships model which saved the financial industry £55.5m of losses last year, while its Dedicated Card and Payment Crime Unit has prevented £800m worth of fraud since its creation. Its Economic and Cyber Crime Academy has trained more than 3,500 people in the last three years, upskilling national policing with vital expertise to investigate economic and cyber crime.
The force was recently graded “outstanding” for crime recording and “good” for investigations and response by His Majesty's Inspectorate of Constabulary and Fire & Rescue Services (HMICFRS) – a testament to its focus on victims and quality policing.
