Court ‘no shows’ may rise due to closures

THE closure of courts across the UK could result in more criminal suspects failing to turn up for hearings, a committee of MPS has warned.

The Commons public accounts committee has suggested that an ongoing £1.2billion overhaul of the court system could have “unforeseen consequences for taxpayers, service users and justice more widely”.

Widespread court closures, which have cut court and tribunal venues from 530 in 2010 to just 350 now, could increase the burden on police by forcing them to round up defendants who have failed to appear because their nearest court is no longer local.

“Court closures could also lead to a rise in missed court appointments and may contribute to higher costs for the public purse, for example costs associated with rescheduling hearings, wasted court time and having to arrest or detain defendants who fail to attend court,” the MPS’ report warned.

It added that the national charity, Transform Justice, had said local court closures had led to a rise in those failing to appear, though Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) said any change was not “statistically significant”.

Meg Hillier, who chairs the public accounts committee, said: “Government has cut corners in its rush to push through these reforms. The timetable was unrealistic, consultation has been inadequate and, even now, HMCTS has not clearly explained what the changes will mean in practise.

“Our report recommends action to address these failings. But even if this programme, or a version of it, gets back on track I have serious concerns about its unforeseen consequences for taxpayers, service users and justice more widely.”

The cuts also raise the possibility of “pop-up courts” in buildings that normally have other uses.

The reforms also suggest a wider use of video links for hearings, allowing defendants to participate from prison, but the MPS raised concerns that this could heighten unconscious bias and cited research which suggests that those who appear remotely are more likely to receive a jail sentence.