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THE government is to shut down more courts across England in its continuing campaign of austerity and privatisation.
The Ministry of Justice yesterday announced the closure of Blackfriars Crown Court, Banbury and Wandsworth County Courts.
Chorley, Fleetwood, Maidenhead, and Northallerton Magistrates’ Courts will also be closing.
Shadow justice minister Yasmin Qureshi said: “Instead of sneaking these closures out on the last day before parliament breaks for the summer, the Conservatives should halt all the planned court closures until its wide-ranging courts reform programme has been properly debated in parliament."
The Public and Commercial Services union (PCS) condemned the move, and said 100 jobs were at risk.
PCS general secretary Mark Serwotka said: “This is devastating news for our hardworking members in the Ministry of Justice who struggle to keep our crumbling court system functioning, having already suffered swingeing cuts and huge increases in workloads.”
He said “efficiency and flexibility” were a “mask for cuts” to a chronically underfunded justice system.
“In the last week alone ministers have outlined plans to privatise enforcement work, force staff to work longer hours and work weekends,” said Mr Serwotka.
He said staff would resist with industrial action if necessary.
