Oral Answers to Questions

Jim Cunningham Excerpts

Tuesday 15th May 2012 Commons Chamber

[Mr Blunt]

We are always keen to support work and training initiatives in prison and with offenders. A significant number of policy initiatives are now coming forward that might be able to incorporate the kind of service and training that Mr Dosanjh is offering, and I will ask my officials to contact him to see what might be possible.

[Mr Jim Cunningham (Coventry South) (Lab)]

15. Whether he plans to bring forward proposals to enable magistrates to sit in community centres and police stations.

[The Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Justice (Mr Jonathan Djanogly)]

We are currently developing a programme of reforms that will deliver swift, sure and visible justice—we intend to publish details shortly. As part of that, we are considering new and innovative ways to involve magistrates in delivering justice, and we will work with magistrates to develop these plans.

[Mr Cunningham]

What credence does the Minister give to press reports that police stations could be used as magistrates courts? In relation to these innovations, how many more magistrates will he need, and what will the cost be?

[Mr Djanogly]

I had not heard that, but it sounds as though the hon. Gentleman could be confusing it with virtual courts, where the courtroom is extended into the police station. The defendant would be in the police station, with the defence counsel either in the police station or in the magistrates court, but the magistrates would still be in the magistrates court.