Law and Rights
The Ministry of Justice, recognising the present financial climate, is keen to axe to some 157 Court locations. The majority are Magistrates' Courts but over 50 are County Courts. On 23rd June a series of consultation papers were published - see MoJ Consultations. It appears that these are in addition to closures announced earlier this year by the previous government - see here. The full list of proposed closures can be read here. This will result in the administration of justice becoming far less local and convenient and it is highly doubtful that the remaining Magistrates' Courts will be able to absorb either the staff or the magistrates. With fewer, and no doubt busier, Magistrates' Courts it is likely that the government will need to ensure that "out of court disposals" are utilised to the maximum possible extent.
HMCS currently operates 330 Magistrates' Courts, 219 County Courts as well as 91 Crown Court Centres.
See The Guardian 23rd June - "Magistrates' Courts to close in cost-cutting drive" and there is further explanation on the MoJ website.
The Ministry is also starting a review of Legal Aid - see announcement.
Addendum 24th June: The response of the Chairman of the Magistrates' Association can be read here. Mr Thornhill JP points out that fewer courts will result in more delay and will be a disincentive for witnesses to attend. Of course, delay can cause added distress to victims.
Whilst accepting that we live in financially difficult times (to put it mildly), the savings involved in these closures are, on the government's own figures, £15.3m per year in running costs and a one-off maintenance bill of £21.5 m. The Prisons budget is in the region of £2.2 bn per year, a figure which makes the savings due to court closures seem small. We can expect that the Prisons budget will have to be culled and that will, in turn, result in far fewer offenders being sent to prison.
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Law and Rights
The axe to be taken to some 157 courts
HMCS currently operates 330 Magistrates' Courts, 219 County Courts as well as 91 Crown Court Centres.
See The Guardian 23rd June - "Magistrates' Courts to close in cost-cutting drive" and there is further explanation on the MoJ website.
The Ministry is also starting a review of Legal Aid - see announcement.
Addendum 24th June: The response of the Chairman of the Magistrates' Association can be read here. Mr Thornhill JP points out that fewer courts will result in more delay and will be a disincentive for witnesses to attend. Of course, delay can cause added distress to victims.
Whilst accepting that we live in financially difficult times (to put it mildly), the savings involved in these closures are, on the government's own figures, £15.3m per year in running costs and a one-off maintenance bill of £21.5 m. The Prisons budget is in the region of £2.2 bn per year, a figure which makes the savings due to court closures seem small. We can expect that the Prisons budget will have to be culled and that will, in turn, result in far fewer offenders being sent to prison.
- Court Closures Announced ~ Problem Solving Courts
Stockport Magistrates' Court (escaped)!The latest round of court closures has been announced - Written Statement of 11th February 2016. The Ministry of Justice full response to the closure consultation is also available as well as Responses...
- Reforming The Role Of Magistrates
This morning I draw attention to an article in Modern Law Review (November 2014) - Reforming the role of Magistrates: Implications for summary justice in England and Wales The article may be obtained (£) from the Wiley Online Library. The Library...
- 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...
- It Looks Like A Dismal Picture For Legal Services And For Justice
24th March saw the final budget of the Labour Government elected in 2005. On top of recently announced closures of 20 magistrates' courts, the Ministry of Justice published plans to make further substantial savings - see Ministry of Justice. ...