More than 150 courts could be axed as MoJ looks to rationalise operations

June 24, 2010

The government is to consult on a radical shake-up of the justice system that could lead to the closure of 103 magistrates’ and 54 county courts.

The closures would affect almost a third (29%) of HM Courts Service’s estate, with the organisation currently operating out of 530 courts. (For a full list of courts affected, see below).

The Ministry of Justice said some of the courts did not fit the needs of modern communities. “Their number and location does not reflect recent changes in population, workload or transport and communication links over the many years since they were originally opened,” it claimed.

The move, if implemented, would save around £15.3m a year on running costs, with a further saving of £21.5m on maintenance costs. The MoJ insisted that there would also be savings for other justice agencies “by focusing their attendance at a single accessible location within a community”.

In addition, the consultation paper seeks views on the merger of a number of Local Justice Areas, which the government believes would allow magistrates to be deployed more flexibly and to a wider community.

Courts Minister Jonathan Djanogly insisted that the government was committed to supporting local justice, and would continue to strongly support magistrates as “the bedrock of our justice system”.

However, he added: “The arrangements we have are historical and now need to be re-assessed to ask whether they properly meet the needs of communities as they are today. We now have the opportunity to think afresh about how we can create a more modern, fit-for-purpose justice system in line with the way we live our lives today.”

Advocating the greater use of technology as a way to reduce the need for physical attendance in court, Djanogly said: “Not all disputes need to be resolved in court. I want to explore whether more people can resolve their disputes in a way that leads to faster and more satisfactory solutions.

“We should not think about access to justice as simply a question of length of journey to the nearest court. In the future, we need to look at whether through the more effective use of video and telephone links and other technology including online services, we can improve the public’s experience of the justice system.”

The minister said he also wanted to begin “a conversation” about how the courts service could be modernised to improve the justice system as well as reduce its costs.

FULL LIST OF COURTS AFFECTED

North West

Magistrates’ courts: Northwich Magistrates' Court, Southport Magistrates' Court, Knowsley Magistrates' Court, Whitehaven Magistrates' Court, Penrith Magistrates' Court, Rawtenstall Magistrates' Court, Salford Magistrates' Court, Rochdale Magistrates' Court.

County courts; Northwich County Court, Southport County Court, Penrith County Court, Runcorn County Court  Whitehaven County Court, Rawtenstall County Court, Chorley County Court, Salford County Court, Bury County Court.

North East

Magistrates’ courts: Guisborough Magistrates' Court, Bishop Auckland Magistrates' Court Tynedale Magistrates' Court, Alnwick Magistrates' Court, Blaydon Magistrates' Court, Gosforth Magistrates' Court, Houghton Le Spring Magistrates' Court, Goole Magistrates' Court, Skipton Magistrates' Court, Selby Magistrates' Court, Batley And Dewsbury Magistrates' Court, Keighley Magistrates' Court Sitting At The Bingley Court House, Pontefract Magistrates' Court.

County courts: Bishop Auckland County Court, Consett County Court, Barnsley County Court, Goole County Court, Skipton County Court, Pontefract County Court, Keighley County Court, Dewsbury County Court.

Wales:

Magistrates’ courts: Barry Magistrates' Court, Aberdare Magistrates' Court, Llwynypia Magistrates' Court, Ammanford Magistrates' Court, Cardigan Magistrates' Court, Llandovery Magistrates' Court, Denbigh Magistrates' Court, Pwllheli Magistrates' Court, Flint Magistrates' Court, Chepstow Magistrates' Court, Abertillery Magistrates' Court, Abergavenny Magistrates' Court, Llangefni Magistrates’ Court.

County courts: Chepstow County Court, Aberdare County Court, Rhyl County Court, Pontypool County Court, Llangefni County Court.

Midlands

Magistrates’ courts: Halesowen Magistrates' Court, Sutton Coldfield Magistrates' Court, West Bromwich Magistrates' Court, Rugby Magistrates' Court, Stoke Magistrates' Court, Tamworth Magistrates' Court, Ludlow Magistrates' Court, Market Drayton Magistrates' Court, Oswestry Magistrates' Court, Ilkeston Magistrates' Court, Newark Magistrates' Court, Worksop Magistrates' Court, Retford Magistrates' Court, Coalville Magistrates' Court, Market Harborough Magistrates' Court, Melton Mowbray Magistrates' Court, Spalding Magistrates' Court, Towcester Magistrates' Court, Daventry Magistrates' Court, Rutland Magistrates' Court, Kettering Magistrates' Court.

County courts: Rugby County Court, Stourbridge County Court, Stratford-Upon-Avon County Court, Newark County Court, Worksop County Court, Melton Mowbray County Court, Wellingborough County Court, Grantham County Court, Skegness County Court, Tamworth County Court, Oswestry County Court, Ludlow County Court, Shrewsbury County Court, Evesham County Court, Redditch County Court, Burton-Upon-Trent County Court, Kidderminster County Court.

South West

Magistrates’ courts: Frome Magistrates' Court, Bridgwater Magistrates' Court, Liskeard Magistrates' Court, Newton Abbot Magistrates' Court, Camborne Magistrates' Court, Totnes Magistrates' Court, Honiton Magistrates' Court, Penzance Magistrates' Court, Blandford Forum Magistrates' Court, Wimborne Magistrates' Court, Coleford Magistrates' Court, Cirencester Magistrates' Court, Stroud Magistrates' Court, Andover Magistrates' Court, Alton Magistrates' Court, Lyndhurst Magistrates' Court.

County courts: Cheltenham County Court, Penzance County Court, Trowbridge County Court, Poole County Court.

South East

Magistrates’ courts: Grays Magistrates' Court, Harlow Magistrates' Court, Epping Magistrates' Court, Ely Magistrates' Court, Wisbech Magistrates' Court, Thetford Magistrates' Court, Cromer Magistrates' Court, Swaffham Magistrates' Court, Sudbury Magistrates' Court, Ashford Magistrates' Court, Sittingbourne Magistrates' Court, Epsom Magistrates' Court, Woking Magistrates' Court, Mid-Sussex Magistrates' Court, Lewes Magistrates' Court, Bicester Magistrates' Court, Hemel Hempstead Magistrates' Court, Witney Magistrates' Court, Amersham Magistrates' Court, Newbury Magistrates' Court, Didcot Magistrates' Court.

County courts: Ashford County Court, Gravesend County Court, Haywards Heath County Court, Epsom County Court, Huntingdon County Court, Harlow County Court, Lowestoft County Court, Newbury County Court, Hitchin County Court.

London

Magistrates’ courts: Acton Magistrates' Court, Haringey Magistrates' Court (Highgate), Harrow Magistrates' Court, Sutton Magistrates' Court, Barking Magistrates' Court, Brentford Magistrates' Court, Kingston Magistrates' Court, Woolwich Magistrates' Court, Balham Youth Court, Waltham Forest Magistrates' Court, Tower Bridge Magistrates' Court.

County courts: Ilford County Court, Mayor's And City Court.