Court reform an “imperative”

A Court of Appeal judge has hit out at “salami-sliced” cuts in HM Courts and Tribunals Service, warning of a “painful loss of institutional knowledge”. Speaking at the Commonwealth magistrates’ and Judges’ Association Conference in Georgetown, Guyana, Sir Peter Gross said courts and tribunals staff numbers had reduced from 22,000 to 17,000 since 2010. The court estate had reduced from 636 buildings in 2011 to 471 in 2015. However, Sir Peter said he supported proposals for greater online delivery of justice and fewer court and tribunal buildings, as outlined in the government consultation, Transforming our Justice System . He also said he believed the reform programme was “not a cost-cutting programme” and would deliver savings through efficiencies.