If this closure programme goes ahead 38.5% of courts and tribunals will have closed since 2010.The minister claims the 460 courts and tribunal hearing centres are underused but we strongly contest this as we know that the department has been considering for some time how it may save money in relation to its estate and that sitting patterns have been used to remove work from certain courthouses to prepare them for closure.
93 magistrates' courts and 49 county courts were closed in the last large-scale round of closures. A number of these have not been sold and are still being maintained at taxpayers' expense so the anticipated savings have not been realised.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: "With courts closures and cuts to legal aid, access to justice has been significantly restricted by the previous government and now this one.
"We do not believe it is in the interests of justice to leave our communities without easy access to courthouses and tribunals."
Transport problems
Many trials in magistrates' courts proceed in the absence of defendants or are dismissed because witnesses don't appear and difficulties in getting to the court play their part. Despite the minister's assertion that 95% of citizens will be able to reach their required court within an hour by car and 83% to tribunals, there will be serious problems for people getting to courts, including PCS members who work in them.In crown courts it will make it more difficult for defence witnesses to attend hearings and mean it is no longer a level playing field as many defendants are in custody and the police will make arrangements to get prosecution witnesses to court. Public transport links are often inadequate and as most people are required to be at court by 9.30am they have to travel in peak time and pay peak fares.
At magistrates' courts certain types of work are being centralised so your nearest court may not be the one where the particular hearing is listed.
Workers vulnerable
While the minister claims his reforms will bring "quicker and fairer access to justice" we believe it will cause more problems. We have continually warned that the merger of courts because of building closures, and staff cuts, has compromised security and left court workers and the public vulnerable to assault. The minister says he is committed to ensuring access to justice is maintained even in more rural locations by using civic and other public buildings, such as town halls, but such buildings are not set up as court rooms with docks and access to cells if there is an issue of contempt.Job losses
Many committed and experienced staff who understand the justice system could lose their jobs if these courts close. Local communities will lose a vital public service and access to justice for thousands of people will be denied.
Increased travel times and more difficult journeys for victims of crime, defendants, witnesses and others involved in court proceedings will inevitably lead to more delays in cases being heard and higher costs.
The delivery of justice has been under threat since the court closure programme began in 2010 and PCS members’ pensions, pay and jobs are of course under threat from the government’s cuts agenda.
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