Now Iain Duncan Smith joins Tories fighting to save local courts

Exchange of views: Iain Duncan Smith
12 April 2012

Cabinet minister Iain Duncan Smith has joined the fight to save his local magistrates' court in a new example of alleged government "nimbyism" over the Ministry of Justice's £37 million cost-cutting plans.

The Work and Pensions Secretary has told colleagues that it would be a mistake to close the Waltham Forest court, which serves his Chingford and Woodford Green constituency, because it is one of the most efficient in the capital.

He has also warned that the closure would stop its work protecting the high number of domestic violence victims in the area and force residents to travel excessive distances.

Justice Secretary Ken Clarke has published plans to close 103 magistrates' courts, including Waltham Forest, and 54 county courts as part of an attempt to reduce his department's £9 billion a year budget.

Several other ministers, including International Development Secretary Andrew Mitchell and Solicitor General Edward Garnier, have already voiced opposition to the closure of their local courts, prompting Labour accusations of "rank hypocrisy".

Mr Duncan Smith and two other local MPs met justice minister Jonathan Djanogly after being convinced by magistrates that the case for closing the Waltham Forest court was based on flawed data.

Mr Duncan Smith said there had been a "good exchange of views", and added: "We hope a proper review of the figures will be conducted before any decision is made."

Aides said that Mr Duncan Smith fully accepted the need for the Ministry of Justice cuts and was only contesting the closure because it could prove counter-productive.

Official statistics show that Waltham Forest's five court rooms have an overall "utilisation" rate of only 72 per cent, but an average hourly operating cost of £86.90 which is lower than 18 other London magistrates' courts.

David Evans, the deputy chairman of Waltham Forest magistrates' bench, said that women domestic violence victims often needed to attend court quickly to obtain non-molestation orders while their partners were out, and making them travel to alternative courts in Stratford or Bow would be "the very antithesis of local justice".

Eleven magistrates' courts in London, including Acton, Woolwich, Kingston, Sutton and Harrow, are earmarked for closure.

The Magistrates' Association is proposing that if closures go ahead, new courts could be set up in empty retail units in shopping centres and spare rooms in town halls.

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