Pop up courts could be set up in shopping centres
Published: 19 August, 2010
Courts could take over empty units in shopping centres in a bid to speed up the justice system, according to the Magistrates' Association.
The proposals, which are expected to be submitted to the Ministry of Justice at the beginning of September, aim to allow more cases to be dealt with near where victims and witnesses live and work, reducing travel time and increasing the likelihood of offenders turning up.
The cases would be dealt with quickly and publicly with shoppers able to watch the proceedings through the windows.
John Howson, deputy chairman at the Magistrates’ Association, said: “It might be that a pop up court is installed for a short period of time in a shopping centre where there has been a spate of shoplifting, helping to deter others. The key thing is aiming to get cases dealt with quickly.”
The courts would be used to try low-level offenders such as shoplifters, who are usually on bail and don’t need to be kept in cells in complicated buildings.
Shoplifters wouldn’t need to be taken to a police station and could even be sentenced within a matter of hours with a duty solicitor on hand at the shopping centre to represent the accused.
Ed Cook, executive director at the BCSC, said: “Shopping centres play an important role in our towns and cities, and centre managers are always looking for innovative ways to use empty retail units - particularly community uses such as health centres, libraries and art galleries - to help keep centres busy and thriving. However, these other uses need to be carefully balanced with the overall occupier mix in order to achieve a relaxed and vibrant retail and leisure experience.
“Our view is that applications from local councils would need to be assessed by the relevant centre on a case-by-case basis because every centre is unique. In some cases there may be merit in providing this service, but in many it will not be feasible for a whole host of reasons.
“This would allow the centres themselves to take into account the wider considerations of security, ambience and the potential operational and logistical challenges posed by holding defendants in a separate and secure space from the general public.”
The proposal comes after the announcement that more than 100 magistrates' courts face closure as part of a drive to save £37m.
