Leaked memo reveals plans to reduce court sittings due to staff shortages
A leaked memo obtained by the BBC has shed light on impending changes in some magistrates’ courts, as a result of a lack of legal staff. The memo indicates that certain magistrates’ courts are set to “drastically” reduce their sittings in the coming months.
According to the leaked document, the number of criminal courts operating in Hampshire, Isle of Wight, and Wiltshire is expected to be halved from January to March 2025. A court administrator, speaking on the condition of anonymity, cited a shortage of legal advisers as the primary reason for the reduction in court sessions.
The reductions are anticipated to continue until September, as the courts grapple with a shortage of legal advisers who play a crucial role in assisting magistrates with legal matters. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) has acknowledged the forthcoming cutbacks and has committed to deploying additional resources to support the affected courts.
The internal memo highlighted the strain caused by the staff shortages, describing the situation as “untenable” and leading to “daily firefighting” and “last-minute court closures.” In response to these challenges, a decision has been made to implement a significantly reduced court schedule for a three-month period spanning from January to March 2025.
Emphasizing the necessity of the measures taken, the memo stated, “We recognize that this is a very difficult position to be in, but we are confident that by making these drastic and carefully planned reductions, we can ensure that we increase the competence and resilience of our legal team.”
In light of the developments, Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood has initiated a review of the criminal justice system to address the issues at hand. The Magistrates’ Association has highlighted a national shortage of legal advisers, particularly in the southern regions of England, leading to the cancellation or postponement of numerous court sessions each year.
Tom Franklin, Chief Executive of the Magistrates’ Association, expressed concern over the impact of the shortage, stating, “Sorting out legal adviser numbers through better recruitment and retention will cost some money, but for a relatively small amount, it could have a big impact on sorting out one of the log-jams in the courts.”
Meanwhile, the Law Society, representing solicitors, raised additional concerns regarding shortages of magistrates, lawyers, and prison escort staff. Richard Atkinson, President of the Law Society, remarked, “This is particularly unhelpful when the magistrates’ court backlog is already huge and growing, with 333,349 cases outstanding at the end of September.”
The latest government figures revealed that Hampshire and the Isle of Wight were facing 11,916 open cases, the highest number in five years, while Wiltshire had 2,350 pending cases. The Crown Prosecution Service declined to comment on the backlog issue.
In response to the challenges, the Ministry of Justice issued a statement affirming their commitment to addressing the shortfall in legal advisers.
