JUSTICE will no longer be done in Sandwell.

Today, HM Courts and Tribunals Service announced Oldbury's Sandwell Magistrates Court will close despite overwhelming opposition from public bodies, politicians and staff.

Cases will be now heard in Walsall, Birmingham or Wolverhampton.

West Bromwich East MP and Deputy Leader of the Labour Party Tom Watson is furious with the closure.

He said: “Sandwell will be the only Black Country borough without a court, making it harder for families to get access to justice.

“The government spent nearly £4 million cancelling a new court for West Bromwich in 2010.

"After that debacle, it’s staggering to be told that the only other court in Sandwell will close. It’s the wrong decision and Sandwell is now left with no court at all.”

10 other courts in the Midlands will also be axed under the government’s plans.

Mr Watson added: “Many of the courts closed by the last government sat empty for months, costing millions to maintain. Ministers must ensure the site is not left empty now they have decided it will close.”

Leader of Sandwell Council councillor Darren Cooper was against the closure.

He said: "“The proximity of Sandwell Magistrates Court to Sandwell Council house means that the Council’s legal services staff and other staff who regularly attend court are on hand at short notice.

The proposed move to Walsall would increase travel times for staff making our legal services department less efficient which inevitably have a knock on effects for the quality of the legal process in Sandwell.”

West Midlands Police were against the closure, a spokesman said: “We do not agree with the proposal. The potential closure of Sandwell Magistrates Court will greatly impact on public and victim confidence in the criminal Justice system.

We understand the fiscal need but fear the loss of local Courts will lead to a rise in fail to appear at court and it will mean witnesses are disadvantaged and that hearings will have to be re-worked impacting on the listings of cases overall.

The impact of additional travelling especially at peak times will have an impact of detainees that are remanded having to travel for extended times and costs associated with this, by the force when delivering detainees.”

Justice Minister Shailesh Vara defended the decision.

She said: “Our courts and tribunal system is in need of urgent reform. Maintaining our underused and dilapidated court buildings costs the taxpayer £500 million a year but some courts sit for less than half the time available.

“This is simply unsustainable. Closing these courts in poor quality buildings will raise £40 million to re-invest in the justice system, and save hard-working taxpayers £27 million per year.

“The decision to close a court is never taken lightly, but in the digital age I am confident we have measures in place to ensure access to justice is not diminished.”

The report recognised that defendants and witnesses will now have to travel further to court. 

It stated: "HM Courts and Tribunals Service acknowledge and accept that some people will need to travel further to reach their nearest court and for some the journey, if made by public transport, may be over an hour.

"However, for the majority of people the closure will have little impact
given the infrequency with which people need to attend court and the proportion of people who would use public transport to do so."