Decision on court merger expected

Chairman of the Luton & South Beds bench, Barry Neale, said: “The 12 week consultation period ended on Friday.

“We’re expecting a decision later this summer.

“If it is agreed, it will have to be endorsed by Parliament before coming into effect, probably in January next year.”

Mr Neale said magistrates’ workloads were falling across the country because more cases were being dealt with out of court.

He said: “Police are issuing more penalty notices.”

He added the aim was to make the system more flexible.

Mr Neale said if the merger were implemented, there were no proposals to close Bedford magistrates court which is situated in the old Shire Hall: “There will still be a court house, but more cases could be transferred to Luton.”

He added: “There will be no change as far as the public is concerned.

“Defendants, witnesses, victims and other court users should not be disadvantaged by where the case is heard.

“There will not be an adverse impact on the communities we serve.

“We will try to ensure that a case is heard closest to where the offence occurred and/or where the victim lives.”

Magistrates are required by the Lord Chancellor to sit for a minimum of 26 half days a year to maintain their competence.

The number of cases being dealt with at Bedford has dropped by 3,300 since 2008 while Luton’s workload has increased by a similar amount.

Announcing the consultation earlier this year, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson said: “There is currently insufficient magistrate’s court work in the Bedford and mid Bedfordshire local justice area to sustain the bench.

“The proposed merger will provide greater flexibility to ensure that magistrates undertake a sufficient range of sittings and are able to sit where they are most needed to manage the workload.”

The consultation document was sent to MPs, councils and judges.

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