PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Magistrates' Courts: Urban Areas (9 February 2021)
Question Asked
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, what steps he is taking to ensure that magistrates' courts are based in town centres.
Asked by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)
Asked by:
Sir John Hayes (Conservative)
Answer
Our current magistrates’ court buildings across England and Wales are located in town and city centres, making sure that they are accessible to court users, including by public transport.
Access to justice is our top priority when we consider the future location of any court or tribunal building. There are currently no plans to relocate or acquire new magistrates’ court buildings.
The HMCTS Court and Tribunal Design Guide published in 2019 is clear that when choosing any potential future court sites that they offer a suitable location, accessibility, amenity, security, urban context and planning potential.
Answered by:
Chris Philp (Conservative)
17 February 2021
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