Justices’ clerks cut a ‘retrograde step’

4:19pm Friday 18th January 2002

BROMLEY'S chief magistrate has criticised a court authority decision to reduce the number of justices' clerks from 30 to five as a "retrograde step".

The decision by the Greater London Magistrates' Court Authority (GLMCA) means the loss of Bromley's justices' clerk a position which has existed in the borough for more than 200 years.

Justices' clerks provide legal advice to magistrates and act as figureheads.

Chairman of the Bromley bench Christine Watson said: "This will mean a loss of the personal touch as well as the loss of a recognisable figurehead. It's an erosion of the feeling of local justice, and a retrograde step."

GLMCA chief executive Ashley Trueluck said: "We are doing what has happened in the rest of the country and creating regional justices' clerks for more and more standardisation of justice.

"Every bench will continue to have an experienced legal advisor.

"We cannot yet be sure whether there will be any redundancies, as some justices' clerks may reapply for their jobs locally and some may apply for the regional jobs."

Robin Haynes, Bromley's justices' clerk, was unavailable for comment.

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