B P Collins Solicitors: talk to the experts
Gerrards Cross: +44(0) 1753 889995
Beaconsfield: +44(0) 1494 675363
Related stories
Health and safety 'makes legal sense'
30 December 2008
Magistrates courts 'to have revised rules in 2009'
23 December 2008
Bailiffs 'given more powers to collect debts'
22 December 2008
Insolvency regulations 'to be revised in 2009'
22 December 2008
Magistrates courts 'more efficient'
23 October 2008
Litigation lawyers and their clients may be spending less time in magistrates courts, new figures from the government have indicated.
Statistics show that the time taken between police charging a defendant to a case being concluded in magistrates courts in England and Wales is 45 days, compared with 62 days in 2007.
The government attributed this improvement to the introduction of the Criminal Justice: Simple, Speedy Summary scheme, which aims to make the criminal justice system more efficient.
Courts minister Bridget Prentice said local justice is being "delivered quickly and effectively" in magistrates courts.
"This means that victims and witnesses are spared the ordeal of having to return to court several times as far fewer cases are adjourned," Ms Prentice remarked.
Criminals are also being "brought to justice quicker" and less police time is being wasted, the minister asserted.
