Local justice area

Local justice areas are units in England and Wales established by the Courts Act 2003,[1] replacing[1] and directly based on the previous petty sessional divisions. They have been in existence since 2005.[2]

Whilst previously, local justice areas were used to determine which magistrates' courts may hear a particular case, since 1 April 2015, any magistrates' court in England and Wales may hear any case from anywhere in England and Wales. [3][4]

The areas established were identical to the petty sessional divisions. They have since been amended by the merger of South Pembrokeshire and North Pembrokeshire to a single Pembrokeshire local justice area,[5] and the merger of De Maldwyn and Welshpool to a single Montgomeryshire local justice area[5] – this change came into force in 2006, although the magistrates already shared the same courtroom.

A further amendment occurred in 2006 when the areas of Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Drayton were combined to become a new area named Shrewsbury and North Shropshire.[6] The areas of Telford and Bridgnorth and South Shropshire were also combined to become a new area named Telford and South Shropshire.[6]

A major rearrangement was carried out in April 2017, when many local justice areas were amalgamated to leave 16 across England and Wales. [7]

Each local justice area was part of a larger courts board area, which replaced the magistrates' courts committee areas with the inauguration of Her Majesty's Courts Service in 2005.[8] Courts boards were abolished in 2012. [9]

Post 2017 Local Justice Areas

These are the Local Justice Areas created by The Local Justice Areas Order 2016, in effect from 1 April 2017: [7]

  • Avon and Somerset replaces the areas of Bristol, North Avon and Somerset.
  • Cardiff replaces the areas of Newcastle and Ogmore and Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan.
  • Cheshire replaces the areas of North Cheshire, South and East Cheshire, and West Cheshire.
  • Cleveland replaces the areas of Hartlepool and Teesside.
  • East Hampshire replaces the areas of South East Hampshire and South Hampshire.
  • Humber replaces the areas of East Yorkshire, Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Hull and Holderness, and North Lincolnshire.
  • Merseyside replaces the areas of Liverpool and Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral.
  • Mid Wales replaces the areas of Brecknock and Radnorshire and Glamorgan Valleys.
  • Northamptonshire replaces the areas of Corby, Kettering, and Northampton, Daventry and Towcester, and Wellingborough.
  • North Central Wales replaces the areas of Conwy and Denbighshire.
  • North West Wales replaces the areas of Gwynedd and Ynys Môn/ Anglesey.
  • South Yorkshire replaces the areas of Barnsley District, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield.
  • Staffordshire replaces the areas of Central and Southwest Staffordshire, North Staffordshire, and South East Staffordshire.
  • Surrey replaces the areas of North Surrey, South East Surrey, and South West Surrey.
  • West Yorkshire replaces the areas of Bradford and Keighley, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds District, and Wakefield and Pontefract.

See also

References
  1. "Courts Act 2003: Section 8", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 2003 c. 39 (s. 8)
  2. "Local Justice Areas Order 2005", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2005/554
  3. "Memorandum by the Magistrates' Association, Judicial Policy & Practice Committee". UK Parliament Publications and Records. House of Commons. 17 March 2006. Retrieved 17 February 2023. Our suggested solution, based upon the fact that from 1 April 2005 magistrates have the capability to hear cases anywhere within the jurisdiction of their National Commission, and not just within their local area...
  4. "Courts Act 2003 Explanatory Notes". legislation.gov.uk. The National Archives. 20 November 2003. 95. Retrieved 17 February 2023.
  5. "The Local Justice Areas (No.2) Order 2005", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2005/2949
  6. "The Local Justice Areas (No.1) Order 2006", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2006/1839
  7. "The Local Justice Areas Order 2016", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, 15 September 2016, SI 2016/941, retrieved 15 February 2023
  8. "The Courts Boards Areas (Amendment) Order 2004", legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives, SI 2004/1303
  9. The Public Bodies (Abolition of Courts Boards) Order 2012, UK Statutory Instruments 2012, 2012, Wikidata Q99682324
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