GM Mayor condemns court closures

Greater Manchester Mayor Tony Lloyd

Mayor and Police and Crime Commissioner Tony Lloyd has condemned the Government’s decision to close courts across Greater Manchester.

The Ministry of Justice has announced that courts in Oldham (which also serves Rochdale), Bury and Trafford will close, despite pleas from the region’s political and civic leaders that this will have detrimental impact on victims and witnesses and the local economy.

Mr lloyd said: “This is a short-sighted decision by ministers, which is driven purely to cut costs rather than looking at the bigger picture, which should ensure that justice is served efficiently, effectively and locally. It highlights this Government’s disregard for local communities and will cause unnecessary distress to vulnerable victims as Courts abandon cases when witnesses and defendants fail to show up.

“This is not how local justice should be delivered. We will do what we can, along with partner agencies, to minimise the damage caused by this ill-thought decision.

“I have been pushing the Minister of State Mike Penning to look at more innovative solutions which we have put forward and this has been acknowledged in the consultation response. I now call on the Minister to act on this and translate words into real action.”