CRIMINAL defendants may be asked to give evidence over the Internet under costcutting plans that could see a Hampshire magistrates’ court closed down.

The Government said Lyndhurst Magistrates’ Court, in the New Forest, was failing to provide value for money – despite it sitting every day – and called for a rethink in the way justice was delivered, to include greater use of “video and telephone links” and online services.

A consultation published yesterday outlined proposals to shut down 103 magistrates’ courts and 54 county courts across England and Wales that were “underused and inadequate”.

If implemented, the closures could save about £15.3m each year in running costs along with a saving of £21.5m on maintenance costs.

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The Lyndhurst court, which opened in 1998, currently deals with crime cases, half of all traffic-related cases prosecuted by the Hampshire Safer Roads Partnership and TV licence prosecutions for Southampton and the New Forest area.

It is also a specialist domestic violence court. Her Majesty’s Court Service (HMCS) said the current network of magistrates’ courts in Aldershot, Alton, Andover, Basingstoke, Fareham, Lyndhurst, Newport, Portsmouth and Southampton “does not reflect changes in population, workload or transport and communication links since they were originally opened”.

Announcing plans to close courts at Lyndhurst, Alton and Andover, it added: “Through operating out of this number of magistrates’ courts, HMCS is unable to provide efficient services in Hampshire and the Isle of Wight.”

Closing the Lyndhurst court, which does not employ any staff directly, and transferring work to Southampton ten miles away would save £180,000 a year in running costs and avoid the need to tackle the £380,000 maintenance backlog.

But Julian Lewis, Tory MP for New Forest East, said he planned to oppose the move and pointed out that Lyndhurst Court was created to replace a network of smaller courts in the New Forest area that were closed in recent years.

He said: “If everything gets taken over by Southampton and everyone has to travel to the city to receive the attention of the courts that would be an unfortunate development, and a retrograde step, for what appears to be not a very great saving in resources.”

Courts Minister Jonathan Djanogly said: “Across the civil, family and criminal courts I want to explore ways we can harness technology more effectively so people don’t necessarily have to physically attend court when they give evidence or access court services.

“In the future, we need to look at whether through the more effective use of video and telephone links and other technology including online services, we can improve the public’s experience of the justice system.”