PLANS to close Dorchester Crown Court have been criticised by the Law Society which says it will 'deepen inequalities in justice system'.

The society has responded to a Ministry of Justice consultation on proposals to close 91 courts and tribunals and integrate or merge 31 more.

Dorchester Crown Court, which is housed within County Hall, is among those which could close, with cases moving to Bournemouth.

The society believes the building should be upgraded so it is fit for the future.

Law Society president Jonathan Smithers said: "The proposed closure of Dorchester Crown Court will make it more difficult for a significant number people to get to court, and the closures will more adversely affect people with disabilities and lower income families.

"Combined with the further planned increases in court fees and reductions in eligibility for legal aid, this closure will serve to deepen the inequalities in the justice system between those who can and cannot afford to pay.

"No matter who you are, no matter where you live, everyone must be able to access legal advice and the justice system."

The society said moving work to Bournemouth Combined Court would significantly increase travel time for jurors, victims and witnesses, as well as professional court users, and "seriously affect access to justice".

The consultation paper states that road links between Dorchester and east Bournemouth are good, but Law Society members have said this is misleading as the roads are very congested during peak time.

The society adds Dorchester Crown Court is significantly busier than the average court in England and Wales, reflecting high local demand.

Given that recorded crime in Dorset rose by 12 per cent in 2015, the Law Society suggests that it is likely that the court would be even busier in future should it remain open. A total of 11 courts have closed in Dorset in recent years.

Closing Dorchester Crown Court would further undermine access to justice locally and increase pressure on other local courts, the organisation states in its response.

The Law Society has had the benefit of seeing a copy of Bournemouth and District Law Society and the Dorset Law Society’s joint response to the consultation and support the points raised in that response.

Specifically, the Law Society supports the recommendation that MoJ should invest in upgrading the building to make it compliant with the Equality Act 2010 to enable the court to remain open.

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