26 July 2010

Jane Hutt AM meets David Taylor JP, Chairman of the Bench, with Cllr Fred Johnson JP to visit the Barry Magistrates Court and View New Facilities.
 

Following a meeting about the importance of keeping Barry Magistrates Court open as a fully functioning Court Service for the Vale of Glamorgan, Vale AM, Jane Hutt, visited Number 1 court and the new lift which forms part of the latest Ministry of Justice £1.8m investment in the Courts.

Jane Hutt AM said:

“It would be nonsensical to close the Barry Magistrates Court which is fully functioning with 68 trained Justice of the Peaces, Family and Youth, Domestic Violence courts are held with a separate Witness and Victim support service which I visited again last week. I was able to see the newly installed lift, refurbished courts and the recently upgraded cells. This is public money which has been invested in these courts which were reprieved only 4 years ago. I urge everyone to sign the petition which has been widely circulated to reopen the courts by 15th September.”


Jane Hutt AM with Mr David Taylor JP and Cllr Fred Johnson JP at No 1 Court and viewing new lift


 

 

 

18 July 2010

Petition launched to save Barry Magistrates Court

Within an hour of launching a petition to save Barry Magistrates Court, Jane Hutt AM and local Councillor, Chris Elmore, had collected 100 names in Holton Road and King Square last weekend.                                             

Jane Hutt AM said,
 
"There are very strong feelings about the need to keep Barry Magistrates Court and the petition gave them a chance to express their views.We need to unite against the closure of the Magistrates Court which serves the whole of the Vale and provides excellent facilities and support for victims and witnesses,as part of the local criminal justice service."
 
This was backed up by Councillor Chris Elmore who represents Castleland Ward in the heart of Barry, the largest town in Wales. He said,
 
" We have already made the case to keep Barry Magistrates Court and there has been investment and upgrading of the facilities. We will put in a strong case to keep the Magistrates Court here in Barry."
 


 

 

 

Proposed Closure of Barry Magistrates Court

Following the publication of a Ministry of Justice Consultation paper which recommended the closure of Barry Magistrates’ Court, Jane Hutt AM has expressed her concern about this proposal.

She said:

“I am extremely worried about the proposed closure, especially in light of the hard campaign we fought four years ago to secure the future of the Magistrates’ Court in Barry.  I know the people of Barry will join me in saying we cannot let the new UK Government close our Barry Magistrates’ Court.  We successfully made the case to keep it open when it was threatened four years ago.  The Minister at the time Harriet Harman MP, visited the court on my invitation and after considering the facts, viewing the facilities and meeting the staff, ruled against the closure.  The evidence was as clear then as it is now.  Barry is the largest town in Wales, it needs a local justice system which is accessible and effective, with facilities for victims, and a speedy criminal justice process for defendants.  Barry Magistrates Court must be saved once and for all.  I have written to the new Secretary of State for Justice, Kenneth Clarke MP to urge him to reconsider closing our court.  ”


Vale Assembly Member Jane Hutt AM, has written to Secretary of State for Justice Kenneth Clarke MP, to urge him to reconsider proposals to close the Vale of Glamorgan Magistrates’ Court, after she successfully campaigned four years ago to keep it open.

Below is a copy of Jane Hutt’s letter to Kenneth Clarke MP.

 

25 June 2010
 

 
Dear Secretary of State 

Re: Barry Magistrates’ Court, Vale of Glamorgan, Wales.

In light of the recent Written Ministerial Statement announcing a consultation on the most strategic locations for Magistrates’ and County Courts in England and Wales, I am writing to express my serious concerns regarding the proposed closure of Barry Magistrates’ Court in the Vale of Glamorgan.

The Vale Court is a modern and highly effective court and a considerable amount of money has been spent on refurbishing it in recent years to ensure the best facilities and highest standards of security are available for witnesses and victims.  Having consulted widely with local partners and criminal justice practitioners, I do not believe that its closure would be in the best interests of local criminal justice. 

If the Court’s facilities were transferred to Cardiff for example, this could impact negatively on ‘failure to attend’ warrant targets, and would also mean that victims, witnesses and defendants could potentially travel to court on the same public transport, giving rise to cases of witness and victim intimidation.

I would be grateful if these concerns could be taken into consideration and I would urge you to reconsider taking away from Barry, Wales’ biggest town, this vitally important public service.

With very best wishes

Yours sincerely

JANE HUTT AM
VALE OF GLAMORGAN