About Magistrates / Magistrates' Courts |This page last updated 21.06.07 |

Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS)

HMCS contact details

HMCS website

Court Information and Addresses

Typical Layout of a Criminal Court

Typical Layout of a Family Court

Typical Layout of a Youth Court

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Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS)

From April 2005 all 650 Crown, county and magistrates' courts in England and Wales now come under one administrative roof, that of Her Majesty's Courts Service (HMCS), for the first time. This ends the previously long-standing separation between magistrates' courts, which were administered by a total of 42 independent local committees, and the government-run Court Service that ran the Court of Appeal, the High Court and all Crown and county courts.

The creation of HMCS marks a culmination of four years of reform in the courts, providing greater efficiency and consistency in practices, procedures, management and funding.

At the launch of the new service the Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and
Lord Chancellor Lord Falconer said:

"A single national agency is more flexible in the way services are provided. For instance, in some rural areas it is possible to maintain local courts through sharing buildings where it is currently too expensive to maintain separate buildings for different types of courts. It removes unnecessary duplication and ensures greater uniformity of approach across all courts."

Organisation

• HMCS has 42 areas, each with an area director. These match the current criminal justice system areas. There are also seven regional directors.
• HMCS HQ is in Victoria Street, London.
• HMCS has 20,000 staff and work with 30,000 judges and magistrates. In addition, accountability to the local community is an important element of the new agency.
• HMCS will work in partnership with 42 Courts Boards that will each have local representation. Consequently, the boards will give local people a say in how their courts operate. The Courts Boards scrutinise, review and make recommendations about how local courts are run, where they are located and how the level of service for court users can be improved. They are not involved in any judicial decisions, like sentencing, but will fulfil an advisory role to identify and meet local needs.

HMCS contact details

HMCS website

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Typical Layout of the Criminal Court

Please click on the images in the picture to learn more

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Typical Layout of the Family Court

Please click on the images in the picture to learn more

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Typical Layout of the Youth Court

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