Proposals to Close Hammersmith Magistrates' Court Condemned
Council, MP and legal experts criticise 'further blow to law and order in H&F'
Proposals to close Hammersmith Magistrates' Court have been condemned by H&F Council and Hammersmith MP Andy
Slaughter.
Plans to close the court in Hammersmith's Talgarth Road along with Camberwell Green Magistrates' Court have been announced by the Ministry of Justice and HM Courts and Tribunals Service, who say
they include the closure of the buildings and the work being absorbed by existing courts in London.
They add that the closures will also contribute to the consolidation of the London criminal court estate and, through disposal, provide funding for the ongoing process of reforming court and tribunal services in England & Wales.
A consultation is now open online with responses invited until October 27.
Hammersmith and Fulham Council has described the proposals as "a further blow to law and order in H&F", coming months after Hammersmith County Council was shut and most services were axed at Fulham Police Station.
If the plans were to go ahead, the Ministry of Justice would sell off the Talgarth Road site for development and move all of the services – including the renowned youth court – out of the borough.
The government cuts would mean defendants, lawyers and witnesses facing longer journey times and greater expense to secure justice. In addition, the court service in London would be further depleted by job losses for its administrative staff.
"This proposal represents the latest of this government’s many attacks on access to justice for our residents," said Cllr Michael Cartwright, H&F Council’s Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Crime and Anti-Social Behaviour.
" There is a very real danger of those who find it difficult to travel, including elderly and disabled residents, being denied justice all together. This is a case of the government putting cost-cutting before people – and we won’t stand for it."
Hammersmith MP Andy Slaughter has also spoken out against the plans, saying: "I am very concerned by this announcement, particularly as it follows the closure of the Hammersmith County Court this summer.
"We were told that the County Court was closed partly to increase capacity at the Magistrates' Court, however this was clearly not the case. It is now apparent that this was yet another cost-cutting exercise by the MoJ, which further reduces access to justice.
"The closure of Hammersmith Magistrates' Court means there will be no court service in the Borough of Hammersmith and Fulham. This will increase the travel and waiting times for users who will now have to travel to Magistrates' Courts on the other side of London, something that is particularly troubling for those on modest means and those with reduced mobility.
" I raised my objections to the closures in the House of Commons, and will be seeking a meeting with the Minister and a debate about this issue once Parliament returns from recess. I would also strongly encourage people to respond to the MoJ’s consultation on court closures by October 27."
Opposition to the closure of Hammersmith Magistrates Court has also been voiced by the organisation which represents the country's 29,000 justices of the peace.
“We are alarmed by the impact this will have on access to justice. Not just for victims and witnesses, but for the public in whose name we administer the law," said Malcolm Richardson, chairman of the Magistrates. Association.
Meanwhile the London Criminal Courts Solicitors' Association highlighted the dramatic reduction in local justice facilities in London and said: "The proposed closure of Hammersmith, opened just 20 years ago, is baffling."
The Law Society said the closure would restrict access to justice for local residents. "Each court closure imposes greater pressures on those courts, personnel and judiciary who remain," said president Robert Bourns.
"No matter who you are, no matter where you live, everyone must be able to access legal advice and the justice system."
The HM Courts and Tribunals Services however is emphasising that at this stage these are still just proposals and nothing is set in stone.
An HMCTS Spokesperson said: "We have a world leading legal system and are investing £1billion to reform and modernise our courts and tribunals to deliver justice that works for everyone.
"As part of these reforms we are continually reviewing the court estate to ensure it is operating efficiently and offers value for money. No decisions have been made."
September 30, 2016
