Court takes on new role

11:30am Saturday 22nd November 2008

Comments (0)   Have your say »

A NEW Civil and Family Justice Centre (CFJC) has opened in a city’s former magistrates’ court.

The old Durham magistrates’ building, at the junction of Green Lane and Whinney Hill, is now operating under its new guise following a six-month refurbishment. It signals the continuing shake-up of the courts service in the north of the county.

Durham Crown Court remains hearing more serious criminal cases, plus appeals from the magistrates’ courts.

But, where once there were five magistrates courts serving the north of the county, at Peterlee, Seaham, Durham, Chester-le-Street and Consett, only two now remain.

Summary criminal cases, plus youth court and private prosecutions, are now heard only at Consett and Peterlee.

Seaham and Chester-le-Street courts have closed, although the latter has provided a venue for some inquests heard by the Durham coroner.

The new CFJC will hear only family and county court civil matters, and comes into being following the recent closure of Durham County Court, in Hallgarth Street.

As part of the conversion of the former magistrates court, two informal courts suitable for civil and family cases, and two judge’s chambers, have been created downstairs.

The building’s upstairs has become the headquarters for Her Majesty’s Courts Service, for Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria, including the office of its area director, Sheila Proudlock.

Royston Dent, the HMCS group court manager for Durham, said: “It will simplify the delivery of the work of the HMCS because there shouldn’t be any confusion between county and magistrates’ courts in Durham.

“We are totally joining up these services.

“Historically, the courts service and the old magistrates’ courts were under separate administration, and now they’re all under the area director as part of the HMCS, within the Ministry of Justice.”

Mr Dent added it was helping them to provide “a better service”, with “favourable” first impressions from court users since the re-opening as the new CFJC.