Proceedings in the Home Circuit Court were severely hampered yesterday because the sole prisoner truck transporting prisoners to courthouses in the Corporate Area broke down.

The police had to find other means of transportation to take the prisoners to court. The prisoners did not arrive at court until midday.

Policemen yesterday described the prisoner truck as "old and dilapidated" and said that the police should not be blamed when prisoners arrived late for court.

Judge blames police

Some of them said they were upset because one judge had blamed the police for the two-hour delay, but they said they had no control over the defective truck.

Deputy Superintendent Neville Knight who is in charge at the Home Circuit Court said yesterday that there were major concerns about the prisoner truck.

He said that the Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Justice had assured them that some new prisoner trucks would be available by next month.