Local justice area

{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2022}} '''Local justice areas''' are units in England and Wales established by the Courts Act 2003,<ref name="CourtsAct2003s8">{{Cite legislation UK | type = act | year = 2003 | chapter = 39 | act = Courts Act 2003 | section = 8}}</ref> replacing<ref name="CourtsAct2003s8"/> and directly based on<ref name="EN LJA order 2005">{{cite web |title=The Local Justice Areas Order 2005 |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2005/554/made |website=Legislation.gov.uk |publisher=National Archives |access-date=22 December 2024 |page=Explanatory Note |date=8 March 2005}}</ref> the previous petty sessional divisions. They have been in existence since 2005.<ref name="si2005-554">{{Cite legislation UK | type = si | year = 2005 | number = 554 | si = Local Justice Areas Order 2005}}</ref>

Whilst previously, local justice areas were used to determine which magistrates' courts may hear a particular case, since 1 April 2005, any magistrates' court in England and Wales may hear any case from anywhere in England and Wales. <ref name=Hansard>{{cite web |url=https://publications.parliament.uk/pa/cm200506/cmselect/cmodpm/606/606we16.htm |title=Memorandum by the Magistrates' Association, Judicial Policy & Practice Committee |author= |date=17 March 2006 |website=UK Parliament Publications and Records |publisher=House of Commons |access-date= 17 February 2023|quote=Our suggested solution, based upon the fact that from 1 April 2005 magistrates have the capability to hear cases anywhere within the jurisdiction of their National Commission, and not just within their local area...}}</ref><ref name=CAExp>{{cite web |url=https://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/39/notes/division/7 |title=Courts Act 2003 Explanatory Notes |author= |date=20 November 2003|website=legislation.gov.uk|publisher=The National Archives |access-date=17 February 2023 |at=95}}</ref>

The areas established were identical to the petty sessional divisions. They have since been amended by the merger of South Pembrokeshire and North Pembrokeshire to a single Pembrokeshire local justice area,<ref name="si2005-2949">{{Cite legislation UK | type = si | year = 2005 | number = 2949 | si = The Local Justice Areas (No.2) Order 2005}}</ref> and the merger of De Maldwyn and Welshpool to a single Montgomeryshire local justice area<ref name="si2005-2949"/> – this change came into force in 2006, although the magistrates already shared the same courtroom.

A further amendment occurred in 2006 when the areas of Shrewsbury, Oswestry and Drayton were combined to become a new area named Shrewsbury and North Shropshire.<ref name="si2006-1839">{{Cite legislation UK | type = si | year = 2006 | number = 1839 | si = The Local Justice Areas (No.1) Order 2006}}</ref> The areas of Telford and Bridgnorth and South Shropshire were also combined to become a new area named Telford and South Shropshire.<ref name="si2006-1839"/>

A major rearrangement culminated in April 2017, when many local justice areas were amalgamated to leave 75 across England and Wales. <ref name="WDTY">{{cite web |url=https://www.whatdotheyknow.com/request/733478/response/1750947/attach/5/LJA%20and%20Courthouse%202021.pdf |title=Local Justice Areas 2021 |author= |date=10 March 2021 |website=What Do They Know |publisher=HMCTS |access-date=3 March 2023}}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2016">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2016 |number=941 |si=The Local Justice Areas Order 2016 | date=15 September 2016 |accessdate=15 February 2023 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2015 v2">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2015 |number=1870 |si=The Local Justice Areas (No. 2) Order 2015 | date=15 September 2015 |accessdate=3 March 2023 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2015">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2015 |number=1506 |si=The Local Justice Areas Order 2015 | date=9 July 2015 |accessdate=3 March 2023 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2014 v3">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2014 |number=2867 |si=The Local Justice Areas (No. 3) Order 2014 | date=25 October 2014 |accessdate=3 March 2023 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2014 v2">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2014 |number=1899 |si=The Local Justice Areas (No. 2) Order 2014 | date=17 July 2014 |accessdate=11 December 2024 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2014 v1">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2014 |number=322 |si=The Local Justice Areas Order 2014 | date=14 February 2014 |accessdate=13 December 2024 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2013 v2">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2013 |number=1878 |si=The Local Justice Areas (No. 2) Order 2013 | date=24 July 2013 |accessdate=13 December 2024 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2013 v1">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2013 |number=1777 |si=The Local Justice Areas Order 2013 | date=16 July 2013 |accessdate=13 December 2024 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2012 v3">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2012 |number=3128 |si=The Local Justice Areas (No. 3) Order 2012 | date=17 December 2012 |accessdate=13 December 2024 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2012 v2">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2012 |number=1555 |si=The Local Justice Areas (No. 2) Order 2012 | date=16 June 2012 |accessdate=13 December 2024 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2012 v1">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2012 |number=1277 |si=The Local Justice Areas Order 2012 | date=14 May 2012 |accessdate=13 December 2024 }}</ref><ref name="LJA order 2011 v2">{{Cite legislation UK |type=si |year=2011 |number=1168 |si=The Local Justice Areas Order 2011 | date=26 April 2011 |accessdate=11 December 2024 }}</ref>

Each local justice area was part of a larger courts board area, which replaced the magistrates' courts committee areas with the inauguration of Her Majesty's Courts Service in 2005.<ref name="si2004-1303">{{Cite legislation UK | type = si | year = 2004 | number = 1303 | si = The Courts Boards Areas (Amendment) Order 2004}}</ref> Courts boards were abolished in 2012. <ref>{{Cite Q|Q99682324}}</ref>

Local Justice Areas will be abolished once Section 45 of the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 is brought into force. <ref name="JRCA">{{Cite legislation UK | type = act | year = 2022 | chapter = 35 | act = Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 | section = 45}}</ref>

== Post 2017 Local Justice Areas ==

These are the Local Justice Areas as lasted merged by The Local Justice Areas Order 2016, in effect from 1 April 2017: <ref name="LJA order 2016" /><ref name="LJA order 2015 v2" /><ref name="LJA order 2015"/><ref name="LJA order 2014 v3" />

* '''Avon and Somerset''' replaces the areas of Bristol, North Avon and Somerset. * '''Bedfordshire''' replaces the areas of Bedford and Mid Bedfordshire, and Luton and South Bedfordshire<ref name="LJA order 2012 v2" /> * '''Berkshire''' replaces the areas of East Berkshire, West Berkshire and Reading<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Birmingham and Solihull''' replaces the areas of Birmingham, and Solihull<ref name="LJA order 2013 v2" /> * '''Black Country''' replaces the areas of Dudley and Halesowen, Sandwell, Walsall and Aldridge, and Wolverhampton <ref name="LJA order 2013 v2" /> * '''Buckinghamshire''' replaces the areas of Milton Keynes, Wycombe and Beaconsfield, and Central Buckinghamshire<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Cambridgeshire''' replaces the areas of Huntingdonshire, North Cambridgeshire and South Cambridgeshire. * '''Cardiff''' replaces the areas of Newcastle and Ogmore and Cardiff and the Vale of Glamorgan. * '''Carmarthenshire''' replaces the areas of Carmarthen, Dinefwr and Llanelli<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Central Kent'''<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Central London''' replaces the areas of Hammersmith and Fulham and Kensington and Chelsea, City of London and City of Westminster<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire''' replaces the areas of Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Cheshire''' replaces the areas of North Cheshire, South and East Cheshire, and West Cheshire. * '''Cleveland''' replaces the areas of Hartlepool and Teesside. * '''Cornwall''' replaces the areas of East Cornwall and West Cornwall<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''County Durham and Darlington''' replaces the areas of North Durham and South Durham<ref name="LJA order 2012 v1"/> * '''County of Wiltshire''' replaces the areas of North West Wiltshire, South East Wiltshire and Swindon<ref name="LJA order 2012 v3" /> * '''Coventry and Warwickshire''' replaces the areas of Coventry District, and Warwickshire<ref name="LJA order 2013 v2" /> * '''Dorset''' replaces the areas of East Dorset and West Dorset. * '''East Hampshire''' replaces the areas of South East Hampshire and South Hampshire. * '''East Kent''' <ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''East London''' replaces the areas of Hackney and Tower Hamlets, Newham and Waltham Forest<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Gloucestershire''' <ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Greater Manchester''' replaces the areas of Bolton, Bury and Rochdale, Manchester and Salford, Oldham, Stockport, Tameside, Trafford, and Wigan and Leigh. * '''Gwent''' <ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Herefordshire''' <ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Humber''' replaces the areas of East Yorkshire, Grimsby and Cleethorpes, Hull and Holderness, and North Lincolnshire. * '''Isle of Wight''' <ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Lancashire''' replaces the areas of Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale, Chorley, East Lancashire, Fylde Coast, Lancaster, Ormskirk, and Preston and South Ribble. * '''Leicestershire and Rutland''' replaces the areas of Ashby-de-la-Zouch and Market Bosworth; Leicester, Market Harborough and Lutterworth; and Loughborough, Melton, Belvoir and Rutland<ref name="LJA order 2013 v1" /> * '''Lincolnshire''' replaces the areas of East Lincolnshire, South Lincolnshire, and West Lincolnshire<ref name="LJA order 2013 v1" /> * '''Merseyside''' replaces the areas of Liverpool and Knowsley, Sefton, St Helens, and Wirral. * '''Mid Wales''' replaces the areas of Brecknock and Radnorshire and Glamorgan Valleys. * '''Norfolk''' replaces the areas of Central Norfolk, North Norfolk, South Norfolk, West Norfolk, Great Yarmouth and Norwich<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North and East Devon''' replaces the areas of Central Devon and North Devon<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North and East Hertfordshire''' replaces the areas of North Hertfordshire and East Hertfordshire<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North and West Cumbria''' replaces the areas of North Cumbria, and West Cumbria<ref name="LJA order 2014 v2" /> * '''North Central Wales''' replaces the areas of Conwy and Denbighshire. * '''North East London''' replaces the areas of Barking, Havering and Redbridge<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North East Wales''' replaces the areas of Wrexham Maelor and Flintshire<ref name="LJA order 2014 v2" /> * '''North Essex''' replaces the areas of Mid-North Essex, North West Essex and North East Essex<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North Hampshire''' replaces the areas of North East Hampshire and North West Hampshire<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North Kent'''<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North London''' replaces the areas of Camden and Islington, Enfield and Haringey<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North Northumbria''' replaces the areas of Berwick-upon-Tweed, Mid and South East Northumberland, Newcastle and Tynedale, and North Tyneside District. * '''North West London''' replaces the areas of Barnet, Brent and Harrow Gore<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''North West Wales''' replaces the areas of Gwynedd and Anglesey (Ynys Môn). * '''North Yorkshire''' replaces the areas of Harrogate and Skipton, Northallerton and Richmond, Scarborough and York and Selby. * '''Northamptonshire''' replaces the areas of Corby, Kettering, and Northampton, Daventry and Towcester, and Wellingborough. * '''Northern Derbyshire''' replaces the areas of High Peak, and North East Derbyshire and Dales <ref name="LJA order 2014 v1" /> * '''Nottinghamshire''' replaces the areas of Mansfield and Worksop, and Nottingham and Newark <ref name="LJA order 2013 v2" /> * '''Oxfordshire''' replaces the areas of Southern Oxfordshire, Northern Oxfordshire and Oxford<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Shropshire''' replaces the areas of Shrewsbury and North Shropshire, and Telford and South Shropshire<ref name="LJA order 2014 v1" /> * '''South and West Devon''' replaces Plymouth District and South Devon<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''South Cumbria''' replaces the areas of Furness and District, and South Lakeland<ref name="LJA order 2014 v2" /> * '''South East London''' replaces the areas of Greenwich and Lewisham, Bexley and Bromley<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''South Essex''' replaces the areas of Mid-South Essex, South West Essex and South East Essex<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''South London''' replaces the areas of Croydon, Lambeth and Southwark, and Sutton<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''South Northumbria''' replaces the areas of Gateshead District, City of Sunderland and South Tyneside District. * '''South West London''' replaces the areas of Kingston, Merton, Richmond-upon-Thames and Wandsworth<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''South Yorkshire''' replaces the areas of Barnsley District, Doncaster, Rotherham, and Sheffield. * '''Southern Derbyshire''' <ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Staffordshire''' replaces the areas of Central and Southwest Staffordshire, North Staffordshire, and South East Staffordshire. * '''Suffolk''' replaces the areas of North East Suffolk, South East Suffolk, and West Suffolk<ref name="LJA order 2014 v2" /> * '''Surrey''' replaces the areas of North Surrey, South East Surrey, and South West Surrey. * '''Sussex (Central)''' <ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Sussex (Eastern)''' <ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''Teesside''' replaces the areas of Langbaurgh East and Teesside<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''West and Central Hertfordshire''' replaces the areas of West Hertfordshire and Central Hertfordshire<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''West Glamorgan''' replaces the areas of Swansea County and Neath Port Talbot<ref name="LJA order 2014 v2" /> * '''West Hampshire''' replaces the areas of New Forest and Southampton<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''West London''' replaces the areas of Ealing, Hounslow and Hillingdon<ref name="LJA order 2011 v2" /> * '''West Sussex''' replaces the areas of Sussex (Northern) and Sussex (Western) * '''West Yorkshire''' replaces the areas of Bradford and Keighley, Calderdale, Kirklees, Leeds District, and Wakefield and Pontefract. * '''Worcestershire''' replaces the areas of Bromsgrove and Redditch, Kidderminster, and South Worcestershire<ref name="LJA order 2014 v1" />

== References == {{reflist}}

== External links == *[http://www.legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/2003/39/contents Courts Act 2003] *[https://www.legislation.gov.uk/uksi/2016/941/made The Local Justice Areas Order 2016]

Category:Politics of England Category:Politics of Wales Category:Courts of England and Wales