NINE officers from the Crown Prosecution Service in Derby have left after the city's staff were moved to Nottingham.
The nine members of staff were granted voluntary redundancy after the offices, in Gower Street, closed and the workers were moved to the service's site in Nottingham.
They worked as paralegal officers – who trained to undertake legal work but not qualified as professional solicitors or barristers.
It means four full-time and three part-time paralegal officers, who prepare case files for court, remain from the Derby workforce. A Derby Crown Court judge praised the work of the Derby CPS team and said: "We are entering uncertain times."
Speaking in open court, Judge Jonathan Gosling said: "None of us knows the effect on the service of the loss of those who form the heart of this team."
But, last night, CPS East Midlands said the numbers of paralegal officers at Derby Crown Court would not be affected, as staff would be replaced. But the expertise and experience of the new staff has not been stated.
One of the outgoing paralegal officers – who did not want to be identified – said the extra travelling time to the Nottingham office had made it difficult for many and some staff had no choice but to leave because they had children and it was unworkable.
The former caseworker said: "They have lost people with a lot of experience and people who regularly came in to prepare jury bundles in their own time – because we cared about our cases.
!They have got rid of us so easily – it makes everyone feel undervalued."
In his address to the court, Judge Gosling said: "Those who worked and dedicated their time and effort in a job they loved and valued, suddenly find they are no longer required, with no ceremony and, I expect, little recognition for the dedication they have shown. And they no doubt wonder whether their work has been in vain."
He said the CPS was often criticised, but, he said: "Much of it is ignorance or overlooks the reduction in funding and staffing, which has created problems beyond the control of the service or individuals."
Judge Gosling said he had the "highest admiration for the standard of work and commitment" of the officers at Derby.
Steve Chappell, chief crown prosecutor for CPS East Midlands, said: "We have retained a local presence throughout Derbyshire by basing teams of prosecutors and paralegal officers in the magistrates' and crown courts."
He added: "We wish those staff who have chosen to leave us the best for the future and thank them for their contribution."
