A former Labour shadow minister has criticised court closure plans which she believes would make it harder for local newspapers to cover cases.
Mary Creagh, the Labour MP for Wakefield, has said “justice will not be seen to be done” in the Yorkshire city, whose magistrates’ court is one of 86 affected by this latest round of closures by the Government.
The former Labour leadership contender, who has previously held several Shadow Cabinet roles, made the criticism in a piece for the Yorkshire Post.
Her comments echo those of Anthony Stansfeld, the police and crime commissioner for the Thames Valley, who said in February that local newspapers would “not turn up” to hearings held away from their patch.
In her piece, Mrs Creagh wrote: “There is cross-party concern about these closures. It is important that justice is not only done and seen to be done but that it is seen to be done locally.
“The closures will also result in more failed cases, as victims and witnesses will have to travel long distances to get to court. That will also waste police time, because officers will have to travel further to those courts.
“This is just passing on cuts. In this case, the cuts will be outsourced to the police service, because it is the police who will have to spend time travelling from Wakefield to Leeds accompanying defendants or to give evidence.
She added: “Local justice will not be seen to be done if Wakefield court closes, because the local press will not turn up to report cases being heard in courts many miles away.”
The cuts mean almost one fifth of all courts and tribunal hearing centres in England and Wales will shut.
Justice Minister Shailesh Vara previously said: “The decision to close a court is never taken lightly, but in the digital age I am confident we have measures in place to ensure access to justice is not diminished.”
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A case of shutting the door after the horse has bolted and hardly an issue as majority of local papers dont provide anywhere near the level of coverage they used to.
As for the quote “.. local newspapers would “not turn up” to hearings held away from their patch” this isnt an issue either as again,few if any turn up at ones ON their patch as it is.
just a politico out of touch with the realities of life in the regional press where staff cutbacks and changed priorities mean most rely on PR for their court news
nothing to read here,move along now
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Six month suspended sentence for this lady for being out of touch with newspaper reality. Most reporters on staff-starved papers are not even allowed to walk down the road to cover court cases, let alone travel to next town!
It would make sense for one specialist to provide copy for all local papers in an area. After all there is nothing exclusive about court cases.
Snag is no-one wants to pay them a living rate.
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No s***, Sherlock.
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Mary Creagh makes fine points. Is it churlish to point out that the previous Labour government was happy to shut local magistrates courts as well?
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Surely, the solution is simple – hold court sin local newspaper offices. No travel expenses; little time spent away from the desk and those press releases.
Oh, darn it! I forgot, most local newspaper offices are 20 miles from their readers, these days. The defendants would never make it to court, given the state of local bus services.
But then, but then … there’s always the subbing hubs… Or even the possibility of outsourcing justice to India.
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Not many papers cover the courts anymore, be they magistrates, crown, county or high!
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