Ministry of Justice: We call on you to save Chichester's Courts

We would like to raise deep
concerns about closing all the courts in Chichester. We believe that, with our growing
population (an extra 6,000 houses being planned around Chichester alone) there
will continue to be a strong need for local justice for local people.
We believe
that the Chichester courts are, contrary to underlying assumptions of the Ministry of Justice, well used.

Victims and the vulnerable
especially will be hit hard by this closure. A local judge who knows the area
is the best person to decide over contact arrangements for children for
example. Of all the 91 courts that the Ministry are planning on closing the Chichester
courts are the most well used.

Due to high levels of congestion,
the journey times the Ministry suggests are optimistic to the extent of being woefully
inaccurate. The cost of public transport is high for those on low incomes.
Those living on the Manhood peninsula for example will also be especially
affected due to the extra time needed to get anywhere other than Chichester. We would like to express our support for keeping local courts in Chichester. Chichester has a long tradition
of dispensing justice which should not be broken for a cost-cutting exercise
based on highly debatable assumptions.