Family Courts Rethink Is Great News For Brent - Teather

10.22.14am GMT Mon 29th Jan 2007

Sarah Teather MP has led the fight to save Brent's family courts

Local Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East, Sarah Teather, has persuaded the Government to reconsider plans to scrap Brent's family courts service.

The Courts Service had proposed that family work from Brent should be dealt with at Barnet County Court, Uxbridge County Court, or Wells Street in W1. This would have left vulnerable and disadvantaged families forced to travel to centres outside Brent, at their own cost.

Brent Council would also have had to find extra funds to pay for social workers, legal representation and translators to travel outside the borough.

Local Brent MP Sarah Teather arranged a meeting with Harriet Harman, Minister for Constitutional Affairs, to explain the impact the reforms could have on the Brent Community.

The Government have now announced a major rethink. The latest document from HMCS shows they reconsider the many advantages of a Brent Courthouse. They have commissioned a feasibility study which will look at setting up a Family Court Centre in Brent to combine Brent, Harrow and possibly Ealing family work.

Liberal Democrat MP for Brent East Sarah Teather said:

"The facilities at Brent Magistrates Court are excellent. The Government should never have proposed scrapping family work at the centre in the first place.

"I was glad to meet with the Minister to represent the concerns of my constituents. If this alarming proposal had gone ahead it would have been at the expense of the young and most vulnerable in Brent. I am therefore delighted that the Government have been forced to reconsider.

"Brent issues should be dealt with in Brent. I will continue working with local magistrates to make sure the Government stick to their word. It is vital that we protect access to justice in our borough."

Notes:

Sarah Teather MP met Rt Hon Harriet Harman QC on 30th November 2006 at the Department for Constitutional Affairs. Also present were Bridget Page, Chair of the Family Courts Division, and Geraldine Cox, a family panel magistrate.

Related Link:

Read the latest HMCS report in full.