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More than half of all magistrates courts in England and Wales<\/a> have closed since 2010, forcing defendants, witnesses, police, lawyers and justices of the peace to travel sometimes more than 50 miles to access local justice.<\/p>\n The full scale of the closures is revealed in data published by the Guardian and the House of Commons <\/a>library<\/a>. Since the coalition government came to power in 2010, 162 of the 323 magistrates courts in England and Wales have shut \u2013 a loss of 50.2% of the estate. The latest was Maidenhead magistrates court in the prime minister\u2019s constituency. Most have been sold.<\/p>\n The controversial Ministry of Justice (MOJ) efficiency exercise is directly tied to the need to generate funds for a \u00a31.2bn digital modernisation programme, which came under the spotlight following a meltdown of court computer systems<\/a> this week.<\/p>\n As large gaps open up in the courts network in Wales, East Anglia and the North of England, HM Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) has confirmed it is considering whether to pay for taxis to ferry defendants and witnesses from the most remote parts of the country to hearings.<\/p>\n The distance model developed by HMCTS requires that 95% of the population should be able to travel to court from their homes by public transport leaving at 7.30am and arriving by 9.30am. It also specifies that 98% of the population should be able to reach court by 10.30am, which implies a three-hour journey to court and a further three hours back \u2013 a total of six hours travelling on a court attendance day.<\/p>\n Concern about the shutdowns is rising up the political agenda. The Commons\u2019 justice select committee has launched an inquiry<\/a> into HMCTS\u2019s reforms. Among questions it is addressing are the impact of closures, reductions in staffing and how far online systems and video hearings can be \u201ca sufficient substitute for access to court and tribunal buildings\u201d.<\/p>\n Including crown courts, county courts and tribunals, since 2010 more than 250 hearing centres have ceased operating. So far \u00a3223m<\/a> has been raised by sales<\/a>. Treasury funding for the courts digital programme stipulates that a third must be raised by selling courthouses.<\/p>\n HMCTS and the MoJ justify the closures on the grounds that crime rates have fallen and large numbers of courthouses are operating at less than 40% capacity. The agency is developing justice websites and remote video screens, which, it is argued, will mean fewer journeys to court.<\/p>\n Critics fear savings will only be achieved by displacing costs on to other agencies. The MoJ has declined to give a commitment about halting closures: six more magistrates courts are scheduled to shut this year<\/a>.<\/p>\n A study by Dr Olumide Adisa of the University of Suffolk found that local court closures have led to an increase in the number failing to attend<\/a> hearings.<\/p>\n
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