Justice deserts

EARMARKED for closure . . . Oldham Magistrates’ Court

OLDHAM Magistrates’ and County courts could both shut down with cases dealt with digitally or at the civic centre.

The controversial move is part of a national plan published by Courts and Tribunals Minister Shailesh Vara. It recommends the closure of 21 courts across the North-West.

Proposals recommend that cases for Oldham Magistrates’ Court — which has 22 staff and annual operating costs of £418,000 — are transferred to Tameside. Cases for Oldham County Court — which has 31 staff and annual operating costs of £666,000 — will be transferred to the Manchester Civil Justice Centre.

Oldham Council leader Jim McMahon has slammed the plan.

He said: “Denying access to justice has been fair game for this government, first with the changes to legal aid and now through a targeted closure programme to snatch away local courts for people to have fair access to justice.

“This will undoubtedly be a false economy as the workload for those courts which remain is trebled causing delays in the overstretched criminal justice system.”

The consultation report says Oldham Magistrates’ Court, which has eight hearing rooms, only had a 28 per cent usage rate in 2014/15. Oldham County Court, which has seven hearing rooms, had a usage rate of just 12 per cent over the same period.

The buildings being consulted on represent 16 per cent of hearing rooms across England and Wales and are used for around a third of their available time — equivalent to less than two out of five days a week.

The majority of these courts are not used for at least two thirds of their available time and one in three are not used three quarters of the time.

Mr Vara said: “We are reforming the courts and tribunal service so that it meets the needs of modern day users.

“Access to justice is not just about attending court. As we bring in digital technology for better and more efficient access to justice, fewer people will need to physically be in a court.

“This means that we will need fewer buildings, and with many already underused and in poor quality, now is a good time to review the estate.”

Natalie Ceeney, Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service chief executive, added: “Our estate is a significant asset. We currently have a number of surplus buildings and this consultation puts forward proposals on their future.

“As we modernise our service so that fewer people will need to attend a court in person, spending money on unsuitable or rarely used buildings is not good value for money for taxpayers.

“I encourage anyone with an interest to respond to the proposals.”

This consultation forms part of plans to modernise the courts and tribunal service to make it simpler, swifter and more efficient.

Planned alternatives to court room attendances include video conferencing to give evidence and using other civic and public buildings for hearings.

The consultation, which ends on October 8, seeks to ensure that 95 per cent of people can reach their required court within an hour by car.

The other courts recommended for closure in the North West are: Kendal Magistrates’ Court and County Court, Macclesfield County Court, Macclesfield Magistrates’ Court, Ormskirk Magistrates’ Court and Family Court, Runcorn (Halton) Magistrates’ Court, St Helens Magistrates’ Court and County Court, Stockport Magistrates’ Court and County Court, Trafford Magistrates’ Court, Altrincham County Court, Warrington County Court and West Cumbria Magistrates’ and County Court.

Council Leader Jim McMahon said: “Denying access to justice has been fair game for this government, first with the changes to legal aid and now through a targeted closure programme to snatch away local courts for people to have fair access to justice.

“This will undoubtedly be a false economy as the workload for those courts which remain is trebled causing delays in the overstretched criminal justice system.”