CALLED THE BAR

Criminal courts down boozer and in hotels

TRIALS could be held at “pop-up” courts in pubs and clubs in a £1billion money-saving scheme.

Criminal hearings will take place in halls, hotels and even boozers as court buildings across Britain shut.

It is part of a massive upheaval in the justice system which will lead to 6,500 job losses.

Savings of £250million a year from the current annual £1.6bn budget are forecast after 2022 – but it will cost about £1bn to set up.

The reforms were unveiled to judges, magistrates and tribunal chiefs by the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett.

He told them: “No premises should be used where the security of judges and indeed staff, parties and those attending any hearing cannot be assured.”

Under the shake-up about 840,000 cases, including driving offences and fare-dodging, will now be handled online. Pre-trial hearings will take place via video and early stages and planning of upcoming cases will be handled by new staff who are not always legally qualified. The courts and tribunals service said it would “modernise the justice system – making it more convenient, easier to use, and providing much better value”.

But Mark Serwotka, from the Public and Commercial Services Union, claimed: “Our court system is in meltdown.”

The Star Says: P6

SIMON Cowell was doing a fair impression of comic book hero Desperate Dan at an event in the US. Cowell, 58, was a bit rough round the edges and seemed to have been scoffing Dan’s favourite cow pie while promoting America’s Got Talent.

REFORM: Law system