Citizens Advice has said more people should be helped to secure justice without having to attend court in person to ensure access to justice is preserved when courts are closed.
The Government last week announced that it will close 86 courts and tribunals across England and Wales.
Gillian Guy, chief executive of Citizens Advice, said:
“People’s access to justice must be preserved when courts are closed.
“The Government’s aim to help more people secure justice without attending court in person is right and for this to be achieved the implementation must match.
“The stress and difficulty of giving evidence or getting redress through the justice system can be heightened by the pressures of attending court in person.
“While court closures could mean some people have to travel longer distances, technology such as video links could help tackle this issue. And where this can be done safely it is also sensible to explore how other community locations can be used by people seeking justice.”
Notes to editors