Thank you Theresa, members this is really important and I hope you can find time to reply.

In short you do not have to answer every question and if you agree, like the LCCSA that this modernisation is cover for managed decline and reduced access to justice then make your point.

In this consultation the MOJ argues it is ok to close courts because in future there will be hardly any court hearings after modernisation as we will have online pleas, statutory online conviction and penalties, virtual hearings, videolink remands on every occasion and online plea and MOT decisions.

In simultaneous consultations the MOJ argue the we need to have online pleas, virtual hearings etc because of the pressures on the court estate following  court closures.

I kid you not.  They take it as granted that the criminal court hearings are not worth spending the money on.  They have hired bean counters who have no idea what goes on in our courts and how justice can be delivered (and why is might not be).

Argue for a transparent criminal justice system.  The right to see your accuser, to question a witness in person at a venue sit for the importance of the occasion.  The right to participate but to do so within a reasonable distance from your home and at hours that are fair.

-----Original Message-----
From: members@mail.lccsa.org.uk [mailto:members@mail.lccsa.org.uk] On Behalf Of Theresa Hendrickx
Sent: 29 March 2018 11:01
To: LCCSA <members@mail.lccsa.org.uk>
Subject: Fit for the future: transforming the court and tribunal estate - Ministry of Justice - Citizen Space

Dear all,

Dear all,

Please respond to this consultation if you haven’t already.

Very close to the wire I know, but it seems to me to be as much a threat to access to justice as cuts to legal aid funding.

https://consult.justice.gov.uk/digital-communications/transforming-court-tribunal-estate/

Theresa Hendrickx
07949243949
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