Court staff at Glasgow’s Justice of the Peace and Stipendiary Magistrate courts bid a fond farewell on Friday when the court building in St Andrew’s Street heard its last case after 34 years.
Over 70 past and current staff joined Stipendiary Magistrate and Justice of the Peace Robin Christie at the event on Friday 3 August to mark the closing of the building.
“This is a significant moment for the court staff and public in Glasgow. The JP court and district court before that has served Glasgow well. I would like to acknowledge all of the hard work and dedication of all the court staff, Justices of the Peace and Stipendiary Magistrates, and stakeholders past and present,” says Scottish Court Service Executive Director Field Services, Eric McQueen.
“Relocating the courts so that summary criminal business is under one roof in Glasgow will improve facilities for court users. Many of our court users will save unnecessary travel time between the court buildings and some will be able to make better use of their own resources by concentrating their services in the one location.
“The Justice of the Peace and Stipendiary Magistrate courts will be mainly relocated on the second floor of the Carlton Street building and will benefit from better facilities including disabled access, improved security, and a single service delivery point for customers and more direct court access for custodies.
“For the Scottish Court service this is the most efficient and cost effective way to support the courts in Glasgow and Strathkelvin.”
Over recent months, staff had the opportunity to visit their new offices and work shadow with colleagues at Glasgow Sheriff Court. Similarly many of the Justices of the Peace visited the court building and were given a short tour in preparation for the move.
Head of Summary Crime Jackie Powell explains that this has allowed them to experience their new work environment. “Everyone has had an opportunity to meet the staff based in Glasgow Sheriff Court and see the offices and courtrooms. This has been a very successful approach and has been well received by the staff in both court locations giving them a clear vision going forward.”
Strathclyde Police, Glasgow Bar Association, Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service, Witness Service and Victim Support have all been fully involved with the planning, communications and logistics of the move participating in regular meetings over the last 18 months. All court users have been notified in advance of the closure and change of location.
As a result of preparations for the move, Glasgow citizens will be the recipients of a huge city map by revered cartographer John Bartholomew dating from 1940.
Discovered in the basement, pins on the map detail where the bombs dropped on the city during the Second World War and Glasgow City Council are now planning to display this find.
Four antique bench chairs that Stipendiary Magistrates and Justices of the Peace used in court are also destined for a Glasgow City Council as a reminder of St Andrew’s Street’s place in Glasgow’s social history.
Notes:
All stakeholders, court users and anyone scheduled to appear at Glasgow’s Justice of the Peace and Stipendiary Magistrate courts in St Andrew’s Street have been notified that they will now be required to attend Glasgow Sheriff Court and Justice of the Peace Court from Monday 6 August.
Contact details for Glasgow’s Justice of the Peace and Stipendiary Magistrate courts in Glasgow Sheriff Court are: Tephone Number: 0141 429 8888 Fax Number: 0141 418 5247 Email: glasgowjpcourt@scotcourts.gov.ukPostal Address: Sheriff Court of Glasgow & Strathkelvin, PO Box 23,
1 Carlton Place, Glasgow G5 9DA
In its previous guise as Glasgow District Court, it opened its doors in 1978 before becoming the Justice of the Peace and Stipendiary Magistrate court in 2008 when the Scottish Court Service took the responsibility for the running and administration of the building and the Justice of the Peace courts from the local authority.