Crime and punishment: An insider's guide to London’s crown courts

After spending 30 years reporting on crime in London, here is my guide to the capital’s crown courts.

There is nothing quite like the drama of a courtroom but in London, while the Old Bailey hogs the headlines, there are several other crown courts where I have witnessed some pretty theatrical scenes.

The Old Bailey - officially known as the Central Criminal Court - is by some distance the most famous court in the land and has been the scene of numerous courtroom dramas, many of which I have been lucky enough to have had a ringside seat for.

But during the month of August work is undergoing to refurbish its cells, which are I understand too small, too stiflingly hot in the summer and also prone to flooding.

That means murder trials, and other cases in which the defendants are in custody, have been temporarily moved elsewhere.

So what are London’s other main courts?