Tribunal, originally uploaded by DragonDrop.

.. I do like the Swedish sauna look they’ve gone for at the Harrogate Magistrate Courtrooms.

I was invited to take photos at the Harrogate Magistrates Court Open Day. Normally, photography is strictly forbidden inside the building. I was granted special clearance for the day to take photos of everywhere apart from the cells and of everyone apart from the Prison Officers (fair enough)

A fascinating day where we got to see the mock trial of Phil Wills MP presided over by the mock Magistrate Councillor John Fox – the Mayor of Harrogate. Phill was brought up from the cells in handcuffs whilst shouting “it’s a disgrace”. Phill pleaded guilty and was given a 4 year ban from driving for his (mock!) offence of drink driving. Brilliant. Learned so much about the courts and the way they work. All sorts of other things like the Fire Brigade doing a demo of cutting open a drink drivers car, a scale mockup of a prison cell (scary!) and some drunk simulation glasses (quite fun!).

After that I came home and made a huge indian meal of beef curry, nan breads and baji’s from scratch before heading out t’ Tap & Spile with my best chum Simon.