The site of a former London courthouse has been transformed into a TV and film set despite the country's justice system facing a growing backlog of cases.
The former home of Blackfriars Crown Court on Pocock Street in the capital was sold off to developers last year.
There are plans for the building to become a rooftop urban forest with 385,000 square feet of office and community space, but until then the court rooms are being rented out.
Blackfriars' layout has barely been touched since the court was rehoused in another building, so the rooms are being used as TV sets.
The Law Society Gazette reports legal scenes were filmed there for Netflix show Top Boy, about London's drug gangs.
It's believed to have remained free for nine months despite a backlog of cases for jury trials which have stacked up during lockdown.
The publication reports some trials will have to wait until 2022 to be heard due to lack of court room space.
A representative for Her Majesty’s Court & Tribunal Service (HMCTS) told the Gazette an enquiry had been lodged about using the space for new trials but said "the venue was only available for a short period of time and the offer did not represent value for money".
A spokesperson for the development company Fabrix confirmed this, adding: "It was clear that their requirement was for a longer term than our construction timeline would allow."
Work on the project is said to be starting in April.
The sale of the site was previously described by HMCTS as "value for money" as it would help reduce running costs and increase efficiency.
Any profits from the sale of the building, which was reportedly sold off for £65 million, are believed to have gone back into the court reform progamme, which aims to improve technology used in UK courts.
