Davey slams decision to close Kingston's Courts

23.07.02

Following the news that the GLMCA has decided to go ahead with closing Kingston's Magistrates' Courts, Edward Davey, Lib Dem MP for Kingston and Surbiton, has vowed to fight the decision "to the bitter end if necessary". Describing the decision as "a very bad one", the local MP said he had not yet given up.

Edward Davey commented that

"I am extremely disappointed by this bad decision. It undermines local justice and will waste the time of local residents and local police.

"I will be joining Kingston Council in taking the fight to keep the court open to the Lord Chancellor's Department.

"I believe there is a chance that an appeal could work - after all the Government's White Paper on reforming Criminal Justice, launched from Kingston's Crown Court, talks about the need for the criminal courts to work more closely together.

"I find it extraordinary that a body like the GLMCA, established only two years ago, and that will be abolished under the White Paper proposals, has the audacity to abolish 800 years of Kingston having its own magistrates' courts."