Law and Rights
As widely anticipated, the Ministry of Justice has announced that 93 Magistrates' Courts and 54 County Courts will close. See Ministry of Justice "Court Reform: Delivering Better Justice."
It is claimed by government that savings of £41.5 m will be made alongside perhaps some £38.5 m arising from sale of assets. £22m is to be spent on improvements to the remaining court estate but that includes 3 major projects at Camberwell Green, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Prestatyn.
The Ministry of Justice claims that - "Reform of the courts and court estate, allied with the reforms of sentencing and rehabilitation, and changes to the system of legal aid that the Government has announced will make a more intelligent, more proportionate and much more cost-effective justice system"
Much in that statement is highly debatable and will keep the commentators going for some time to come.
The Ministry' statement also refers to Police Officers being allowed to give their evidence via video links so that they do not have to physically attend court. There is also mention of "Neighbourhood Justice Panels" which the government now appears to be keen to introduce. There is little information at the moment about such panels though a few clues exist in the Ministry's recently published Green Paper - see here. It appears that such panels will be made up of community volunteers and criminal justice system practitioners hearing more minor cases. Was that not the role of the Magistrates' Courts?
- Magistrates Courts ~ Unacceptable Delays
Justice Minister Mr Damian Green is seeking to improve the performance of the Magistrates Courts - Ministry of Justice - Damian Green: unacceptable delays in Magistrates Courts. He is right to do so but, let's remember, there have been...
- Green Paper On Sentencing, Rehabilitation
The Ministry of Justice has issued a Green paper entitled "Breaking the cycle: effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders." The paper is open for public consultation which ends on 4th March 2011. See: Ministry...
- Courts Facing Closure: Views Of Lord Justice Goldring --- And Other Matters
On 6th September we asked ?Is ?Justice? in safe hands?? That post looked (amongst other things) at the cuts to the Magistrates? Courts: ?The previous Labour government started the hatchet job on magistrates' courts and the axe has been...
- Justice Buses Are Not The Answer To Court Closures ....
The Guardian 27th August carried an article "Justice buses are not the answer to court closures". Ideas such as "courts" sitting in shopping centres and on converted buses have been popping up recently. For many practical reasons, this is...
- Local Justice Is Getting Less Local
In recent times, the Magistrates' Courts have been equated with the term "local justice", a phrase which implies courts being reasonably near to people (who may have to attend as witnesses etc) and justice administered by people (magistrates) who...
Law and Rights
Closures of Magistrates and County Courts
It is claimed by government that savings of £41.5 m will be made alongside perhaps some £38.5 m arising from sale of assets. £22m is to be spent on improvements to the remaining court estate but that includes 3 major projects at Camberwell Green, Newcastle-under-Lyme and Prestatyn.
The Ministry of Justice claims that - "Reform of the courts and court estate, allied with the reforms of sentencing and rehabilitation, and changes to the system of legal aid that the Government has announced will make a more intelligent, more proportionate and much more cost-effective justice system"
Much in that statement is highly debatable and will keep the commentators going for some time to come.
The Ministry' statement also refers to Police Officers being allowed to give their evidence via video links so that they do not have to physically attend court. There is also mention of "Neighbourhood Justice Panels" which the government now appears to be keen to introduce. There is little information at the moment about such panels though a few clues exist in the Ministry's recently published Green Paper - see here. It appears that such panels will be made up of community volunteers and criminal justice system practitioners hearing more minor cases. Was that not the role of the Magistrates' Courts?
- Magistrates Courts ~ Unacceptable Delays
Justice Minister Mr Damian Green is seeking to improve the performance of the Magistrates Courts - Ministry of Justice - Damian Green: unacceptable delays in Magistrates Courts. He is right to do so but, let's remember, there have been...
- Green Paper On Sentencing, Rehabilitation
The Ministry of Justice has issued a Green paper entitled "Breaking the cycle: effective punishment, rehabilitation and sentencing of offenders." The paper is open for public consultation which ends on 4th March 2011. See: Ministry...
- Courts Facing Closure: Views Of Lord Justice Goldring --- And Other Matters
On 6th September we asked ?Is ?Justice? in safe hands?? That post looked (amongst other things) at the cuts to the Magistrates? Courts: ?The previous Labour government started the hatchet job on magistrates' courts and the axe has been...
- Justice Buses Are Not The Answer To Court Closures ....
The Guardian 27th August carried an article "Justice buses are not the answer to court closures". Ideas such as "courts" sitting in shopping centres and on converted buses have been popping up recently. For many practical reasons, this is...
- Local Justice Is Getting Less Local
In recent times, the Magistrates' Courts have been equated with the term "local justice", a phrase which implies courts being reasonably near to people (who may have to attend as witnesses etc) and justice administered by people (magistrates) who...