Is virtual court substitute for local magistrates? (From Sutton Guardian)

Is virtual court substitute for local magistrates?

6:10am Friday 2nd July 2010 in Save Sutton Magistrates' Court

An alternative to a magistrates’ court appearance is the virtual court, which is being piloted at Sutton police court.

Defendants appear in court via a secure video conference link from the police station and magistrates can administer punishments such as jail or community orders without seeing them in the flesh.

Virtual courts became part of the legal process in July 2009 and could save the taxpayer £15m a year.

Offenders can potentially go from arrest to conviction within two hours.

Magistrates will conduct proceedings from the courtroom while the defendant, defence and prosecution participate from specially adapted police rooms.

Bridget Prentice, Minister for Her Majesty's Courts Service, said: “Virtual courts bring swift justice, and in doing so, have the potential to transform how the justice system deals with crimes.

“It is important the courts provide for the speedy resolution of cases, and we have already cut by more than a fifth the number of days from charge to sentence in the magistrates’ courts.”