CONSEQUENCES OF COURT CLOSURES
1. BACKGROUND
1.1 Closure of magistrates' courts is a
local issue handled by the Magistrates' Courts Committee for the
area, following a consultation process. The MCC is not required
to seek the views of the CPS in the formal consultation procedure,
although good practice indicates that they should make these enquiries.
1.2 Closure, or in some cases, relocation
of local magistrates' courts is linked to the wider strategy of
reducing delay, and to the alignment of MCCs to the 42 Area structure,
securing opportunities for rationalisation which may result in
closure of ill-equipped or under-used courthouses to make better
use of available resources across the whole of the CJS.
2. CURRENT POSITION
2.1 The Crown Prosecution Service supports
court closures which are targeted to achieving a better distribution
of modern, well equipped court centres to fit the needs of victims
and witnesses, particularly the vulnerable and infirm. Maximising
court sitting times at centralised court centres is likely to
achieve savings for all agencies by enabling the efficient deployment
of advocates and court staff; reduced time spent in travelling
and waiting at outlying courts; and enabling fuller, more efficient
lists to be organised across an optimum number of courtrooms.
2.2 This has achieved greater significance
following the introduction of the Narey procedures of Early First
Hearings (EFH), at which the CPS can deploy Designated Caseworkers
(DCWs) and Early Administrative Hearings (EAHs) where laywers
can focus at an early stage on the triable issues in the case.
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