Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Magistrates Courts were (a) partially and (b) fully closed between 1 May 2010 and 1 July 2024, broken down by region.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The table below shows the number of Magistrates’ Courts that were permanently closed between 1 May 2010 and 1 July 2024, broken down by region. The figures do not include integrations, where workload remained in the local area by transferring to a building in close proximity, or courts that are temporarily closed.
Region | Magistrates’ Courts closed |
London | 19 |
Midlands | 30 |
North East | 19 |
North West | 22 |
South East | 32 |
South West | 22 |
Wales | 21 |
There are multiple situations that can require a court to be closed to the public for a temporary period of time. Reasons include, but are not limited to, severe weather disruption, building issues and disrepair, loss of utilities, and in response to security concerns.
HMCTS does not hold central data covering all temporary closures.
May. 13 2025
Source Page: Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure: Terms of ReferenceFound: ' Courts) 35 Masters and Cost Judges of the Senior Courts Master of the King’s Bench Division
May. 13 2025
Source Page: Major Review of the Judicial Salary Structure: Terms of ReferenceFound: ' Courts) 35 Masters and Cost Judges of the Senior Courts Master of the King’s Bench Division
Mentions:
1: Tristan Osborne (Lab - Chatham and Aylesford) , creating additional pressures on those courts. - Speech Link
2: Sojan Joseph (Lab - Ashford) courts in east Kent. - Speech Link
3: Kieran Mullan (Con - Bexhill and Battle) Gradually, more courts were added, but trial times and the number of individual courts available were - Speech Link
Feb. 15 2011
Source Page: Table showing Anti-Social Behaviour Orders (ASBOs) (i)issued, (ii) issued s to males, (iii) issued to females at all courts in each Criminal Justice System (CJS) area as reported to the Ministry of Justice by the Court Service, for the period 1 April 1999 to 31 December 2009. 5 p.Found: ' courts acting in their civil capacity and county courts, which became available on 1 April 1999 and
Found: Bill 59–EN 59/1 COURTS (REMOTE HEARINGS) BILL EXPLANATORY NOTES What these notes do These Explanatory
Asked by: Gareth Snell (Labour (Co-op) - Stoke-on-Trent Central)
Question to the Ministry of Justice:
To ask the Secretary of State for Justice, how many Youth Courts were (a) partially and (b) fully closed between 1 May 2010 and 1 July 2024, by region.
Answered by Sarah Sackman - Minister of State (Ministry of Justice)
The table below shows the number of dedicated Youth Courts that were permanently closed between 1 May 2010 and 1 July 2024, broken down by region. Youth Courts are normally sat by magistrates and are routinely located in magistrates’ courts. The figures do not include integrations, where workload remained in the local area by transferring to a building in close proximity, or courts that are temporarily closed. Some buildings are also multi-jurisdictional, so may also be included in data provided for different jurisdictions in answer to other parliamentary questions.
Region | Youth Courts closed |
London | 1 |
Midlands | 1 |
North East | 0 |
North West | 0 |
South East | 0 |
South West | 0 |
Wales | 0 |
There are multiple situations that can require a court to be closed to the public for a temporary period of time. Reasons include, but are not limited to, severe weather disruption, building issues and disrepair, loss of utilities, and in response to security concerns.
HM Courts & Tribunals Service does not hold central data covering all temporary closures.
Mentions:
1: None In October, this Government also increased the sentencing powers of magistrates’ courts; previously, - Speech Link
2: Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab - Life peer) ’ courts and Crown Courts. - Speech Link
3: Lord Ponsonby of Shulbrede (Lab - Life peer) or giving magistrates more sentencing powers, it is my understanding that magistrates’ courts work about - Speech Link
Mar. 01 2010
Source Page: Tables showing the number of defendants proceeded against, found guilty and sentenced for criminal offences in England and Wales from 1997 to 2008. 15 p.Found: Table 1: Number of Persons found Guilty at All Courts for Drug Offences, by Gender and Age Group, from
Feb. 10 2010
Source Page: 15 tables showing convictions for various crimes.Found: Table 1: Number of Persons found Guilty at All Courts for Drug Offences, by Gender and Age Group, from