CALLED TO THE BAR!

Court cases could be held in pubs and hotels in £1bn trials revolution

CRIMINAL trials and civil legal disputes will in future be heard in ‘popup’ courts, senior judges confirmed yesterday.

Hearings will take place in town halls, hotels or even pubs in towns where court buildings are to shut down.

The plan is part of a revolution in the justice system that will see 6,500 jobs disappear and many court buildings closed in smaller towns.

Savings of £250million a year from the current annual bill of £1.6billion are projected after 2022 – but the initial set-up cost is estimated at £1billion.

The detailed reforms were unveiled yesterday in documents sent by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett to judges, magistrates and tribunal chiefs. Pop-up courts had been publicly trailed two years ago by the chief family judge, Sir James Munby, who suggested they could be set up in pubs.

The documents say: ‘ This should offer the opportunity to improve access to justice, but should not be a substitute for court and tribunal buildings where there is permanent demand. No premises should be used where the security of judges and indeed staff, parties and those attending any hearing cannot be assured.’ The reforms will also include:

A radical change in which 840,000 minor criminal cases like driving offences and faredodging will be handled online. One magistrate and legal advisors will deal with guilty pleas.

Video hearings at all stages of criminal, civil and family cases except the main trial.

A new ‘common platform’ computer system with connec- tions to police, courts and the Crown Prosecution Service.

The handover of routine case management to a new class of advisers, not always legally qualified. Judges promise ‘supervisory mechanisms’ to ensure the quality of justice.

nLonger court working hours, possibly including evening sittings – although judges will not be asked to work longer hours.

On staffing, the current courts and tribunals workforce of 16,500 will reduce to just over 10,000, and on closures the documents say: ‘The 460 buildings that made up the court estate have been reduced to 350 so far, with more reductions to come.’

The new IT system has a budget of £270million, with £280million more for other digital networks. Around £230million is earmarked to improve the court buildings that stay open, and £220million on other costs such as training.

Yesterday’s revelations follow evidence that early stages of the programme have been beset by teething troubles. Judges admitted last week that several divorces approved at 11 new divorce centres staffed by legal advisers were wrongly granted, so some couples who believe they are divorced are in fact still married.

And the centre at Bury St Edmunds in Suffolk, where all divorces in London and the South East are dealt with, is said by lawyers to be taking 22 weeks longer than it should to process divorce petitions.

However, Lord Burnett told judges yesterday: ‘Some of the developments in online services have already been outstandingly successful.’

He added: ‘Part of the underlying model for reform agreed in 2015 was to reduce the size of the courts and tribunals estate but end up with buildings in a decent condition for our staff, the judiciary and the public. That remains an essential part of the overall package.’

Unions are now gearing up to oppose the job cuts.

Mark Serwotka, head of the Public and Commercial Services Union, said last night: ‘Our court system is in meltdown.

‘This will improve access to justice’ ‘Court system is in meltdown’

Courts are kept from sinking by the hard work of the dedicated staff who keep them afloat in the face of budget cuts. Any further cuts will make their job impossible and those seeking to access justice will suffer as a consequence.’

But a spokesman for the courts and tribunals service said: ‘We are investing over £1billion to modernise the justice system – making it more convenient, easier to use, and providing better value.

As we increase the use of digital services, it makes sense to consider the role for court buildings and assess whether some are still necessary to provide effective access to justice.

‘Since April 2016 we have raised £115million from the sale of underused court buildings, over £34million more than forecast, and every penny of this will be reinvested.’