Dear members,
Please find attached a letter received from the CEO of HMCTS which confirms the closure of Blackfriars Crown Court along with 6 other venues.
On behalf of the Association I have attended meeting relating to the greater use of video and online technology which is likely to reduce the quality of experience and outcomes for our clients. The MOJ argue those reforms are needed because there is pressure
on the court estate and they cannot cope with the current requirement of what they call ‘in-court hearings’.
It is ironic that Blackfriars and Highbury were to be the venues for a pilot to have breakfast and evening courts to ease the demand on the court estate. That demand was clearly
not great enough to save it from closure only a few months later.
These programs are, in my view, ideologically driven and unnecessary. The message is that local justice and proper engagement in the process is not worth funding.
There may be more consultations on more closures and I would encourage all members to be ready to challenge this continuing degradation of our system.
Kind regards,
Mark Troman
From: Willis, Martin [mailto:Martin.Willis@Justice.gov.uk]
Sent: 24 July 2018 14:47
To: adrianb@gclaw.co.uk; alison.harvey@ilpa.org.uk; Nimrod@lawcentres.org.uk; claire.blades@citizensadvice.org.uk; ddoliveux@tanfieldchambers.co.uk; jg@littletonchambers.co.uk; GMansfield@littletonchambers.co.uk; j.p.tomlinson@sheffield.ac.uk; mseale@cilex.org.uk;
MHatcher@BarCouncil.org.uk; Mark.Paulson@lawsociety.org.uk; mdw@srflegal.co.uk; jn.lewis@btinternet.com; Nicole.Francis@ilpa.org.uk; OOnyekwelu@BarCouncil.org.uk; Paul.McFarlane@Weightmans.com; rfox@kingsleynapley.co.uk; Robert.hush@beckfitzgerald.co.uk; Sheree.Green@anthonycollins.com;
Sonia@hclc.org.uk; aaron.dolan@criminalbar.com; Alice.Mutasa@lawsociety.org.uk; Angela.Rafferty@18rlc.co.uk; gregfoxsmith@icloud.com; HelenaDuong@23es.com; John.Bottomley@petherbridgebassra.com; Mark Troman <MarkTroman@psplaw.co.uk>; M.Polak@churchcourtchambers.co.uk;
rpatkins@st-philips.com; Atkinsonr@tuckerssolicitors.com; trevor.howarth@one-legal.net; zgascoyne@quinn-melville.co.uk; markides@crownofficechambers.com; dsweeting@7br.co.uk; kevin.hart@citysolicitors.org.uk; Manda.Banerji@nelsonslaw.co.uk; rhoyle@essexcourt.com;
Simon.James@CliffordChance.com; Catrin.Lewis@lawsociety.org.uk; debbie.singleton@nyas.net; FJudd@harcourtchambers.co.uk; Grant.cameron@trethowans.com; henry@frydenson.co.uk; Ianbond@talbotslaw.co.uk; JRoberts@1kbw.co.uk; Katherined@gclaw.co.uk; Mary.Fapojuwo@lawsociety.org.uk;
jones@deanscourt.co.uk; penny.scott@cartridgeslaw.co.uk; PMarshallQC@1kbw.co.uk; Rachel.Rogers@resolution.org.uk; toby.graham@farrer.co.uk
Cc: Owen, Alice <Alice.Owen@justice.gov.uk>; Furlong-Royal, Alleisha <Alleisha.Furlong-Royal@justice.gov.uk>; Loft, Tash <tash.loft@Justice.gov.uk>; Ellie Cumbo <ECumbo@BarCouncil.org.uk>; Phil Robertson <PhilipRobertson@BarCouncil.org.uk>; Valerie Robertson
<Valerie.Robertson@lawsociety.org.uk>; Richard Miller <Richard.Miller@lawsociety.org.uk>; Simon Garrod <simon.garrod@cilex.org.uk>
Subject: Announcement - court estate consultation
Dear all,
I am sharing with you a letter from Susan Acland-Hood, HMCTS CEO to inform you of an announcement following the latest court estate consultation.
If you have any questions then please do not hesitate to get in touch.
Kind Regards
Martin Willis
Legal Professional Relations Support
Courts & Tribunals Development Directorate
6.23| 102 Petty France |London |SW1H 9AJ
Mobile: 07825 144418
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