Budget 2010: Court jobs at risk after closures announcement

Posted 23/06/2010

Around 1,000 people in court jobs could face redundancy after the coalition government announced plans to close magistrates’ courts across the UK.

The proposals were revealed yesterday (June 23rd 2010) and could see 157 courts shut down in a bid to cut costs.

Ministers said this could save £26.8 million in running and maintenance revenue and may result in more people giving evidence via video link or over the telephone.

However, Mark Serwotka, general secretary of the Public and Commercial Services union, called the proposed moves and job losses “an outrageous attack”.

“Our members will not sit back while vital public services are plundered to pay for an economic crisis caused by financial speculators,” he added.

The Magistrates’ Association also criticised closing one in three courts, saying it jeopardises local justice.

Chancellor George Osborne has proposed a package of spending cuts and tax rises worth £128 billion over five years, in a bid to eliminate the gap between revenue and spending.