Save our courts

Investigations are continuing into how government 'savings' proposals will simply heap more cost on local public services and local residents.

A scrutiny challenge panel of councillors met on Thursday to hear the views of key partners on the impact of the court closure. A representative from Her Majesty's Courts Service also attended to defend the government's proposals.

The panel will produce a report for the September meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including detailed figures of the extra costs the Council would face if staff had to travel to courts outside the borough. It will also feed into the Council's response to the Ministry of Justice consultation.

With the rallying call of 'local justice for local people' the Council wants to demonstrate the strength of support for Harrow Magistrates' Court when it responds to the consultation in September. To sign up to the online petition, go to www.harrow.gov.uk/saveourcourt. Paper copies are also available in the borough's libraries.

Cllr Bill Stephenson, Leader of Harrow Council, said:

"Indications are that these so-called savings suggested by the Ministry of Justice simply don't stand up to scrutiny. It looks like they did their sums on the back of an envelope.

"Moving cases out of the borough will simply shunt costs onto the council, police, voluntary groups, and ultimately our taxpaying residents. These are extra costs we cannot afford on top of severe in-year cuts and further government spending reductions to come in the autumn.

"While our fundamental argument for saving Harrow Magistrates Court is that we want local justice for local people, these cost implications are hugely worrying.

"In these difficult times we want our staff to provide the services people need in Harrow , not wasting time travelling to courts out of the borough.

"That is why we are urging people across Harrow to help us fight these ludicrous proposals by signing our online petition to save the magistrates court."

Cllr Susan Hall, Leader of the Conservative Opposition Group on Harrow Council, said:

"As well as heaping more costs on Harrow 's public services at a time of spending cuts, shutting the court house has very dangerous repercussions for community safety in the borough.

"It will take more police away from their duties for longer as they travel to and from Hendon or Brent. Our police already suffer from some of the lowest resources in the capital and far fewer officers than neighbouring boroughs such as Brent.

"We simply cannot afford to lose these officers from our streets and our police cannot afford the extra costs involved without damage being done to the excellent work they are doing."