New cells at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court mean local cases can be heard within the city centre
Better facilities for witnesses, victims and defendants at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court have opened, improving access to justice for all.
Newcastle Magistrates’ Court is now able to deal with cases involving defendants on remand after improvements to the building’s cells and the creation of new courtrooms at the Quayside site. This means all those involved in these kinds of hearings can have their case heard within the city, rather than travelling to Mid and South East Northumberland Magistrates’ Court or North Tyneside Magistrates’ Court.
The new Newcastle Civil & Family Courts and Tribunals Centre – officially opened in July 2021 – now accommodates civil, family and tribunal hearings and supporting teams. This has freed up space within Newcastle Combined Court to create Newcastle Crown Court and Magistrates’ Court and work has been carried out to create disability compliant cells suitable to hold defendants on remand.
Improvements have also been made to facilities for witnesses and victims by creating additional accommodation with updated digital technology, reducing the need to travel.
Vicki Candlish, HMCTS Acting Operations Manager for Cleveland, Durham and Northumbria Magistrates Courts, said:
We’ve worked closely with our colleagues and stakeholders across the criminal justice system – from the police to the Crown Prosecution Service and legal professionals – to make the most of this opportunity to improve facilities at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court. We can now cater for defendants on remand and we also have improved facilities for witnesses and victims.
Most of all, this will make a big difference to all those in, or close to, Newcastle attending this type of hearing. They’ll now be able to have their day in court within the city, rather than having to travel elsewhere in the area.
We’ve also taken the opportunity to update our courtrooms with some of the latest technology to make them more accessible to everyone and support digital hearings. Refurbishments include automatic doors, a hearing loop, dimmable lights and microphones.
While some youth cases are still heard at North Tyneside, the improvements at Newcastle Magistrates’ Court, especially the creation of modern cells, means the bulk of Newcastle work has now returned to the city centre.