Open Letter: Save Our Courts

Dear Sir

The Kentish Express this week identifies the proposed public sector saving cuts leave Ashford Magistrate Court and Ashford County court are threatened with closure.

In making the decisions as to what courts to close, it is likely that government will consider that the lack of custody suite is reasonable justification. This is because it will save money and demand on police and court staff time by simply using courts which already have immediate access from police cells.

Before the closure of Ashford Police Station's Custody suite, people who warned that this would lead to the closure of the magistrates court where accused of scaremongering.

we are now at risk of not only losing significant resources for community policing and community safety, but also the resources to prosecute those criminals. This is likely to lower people's feelings of safety within the borough on the whole not to mention their faith in announcements made by public services.

Assurances were made by Kent Police that the custody suite loss would not lead to the losing of the Magistrates Court. However, whether disingenuous or simply an unfortunate coincidence, this is likely to have a direct impact on whether Ashford can sustain the Magistrate Court.

We have already seen significant job losses as a result of the movement of the custody suite, and now we face more along with the double-edged sword of risks to public safety.

To lose the County Court would also be a significant blow to Ashford. This undermines the principles of Civil Law by denying those the opportunity to seek recompense and justice at a convenient location. Travelling to Canterbury County Court, where it is a significant difference from the West station and with no direct bus route, would not make it easy for people to pursue litigation.

I wholeheartedly support the Kentish Express campaign to Save Our Courts, but I am concerned that their fate is already sealed by past decisions.

Kind regards



--
Kelly-Marie Blundell
Ashford Liberal Democrats
Kennington