PLANS have been drawn up to close down Harrow Magistrates Court and move cases to Hendon and Brent.

Justice secretary Ken Clarke has opened a consultation into sweeping changes to court services across Britain, including the idea of shutting Harrow's only magistrates' court.

The court, in Rosslyn Crecent, is the first port of call for most criminal cases, and is where prosecutions over health and safety breaches, speeding, and youth crime are dealt with.

Under the plans, magistrates would sit at Hendon or Brent, and anyone summonsed to court would have to make the six-mile journey to have their case heard.

The consultation document, released yesterday, says of Harrow's court: “The main entrance is not suitable for access by wheelchair and there is a fundamental security issue as the public counter is accessible prior to passing through the security check.

“External security at the building is currently compromised as a victim support office is based in a separate building at the rear of the car park; meaning public visitors to the building have to pass unfettered through the court’s car park.

“The size of the courthouse, its operational deficiencies and the availability of modern facilities and spare capacity at Brent and Hendon means that it difficult to justify the continued retention of this building.

“Closure and transfer of work would enable us to offer improved and more modern facilities to court users, magistrates and staff.”

The document also points out a need for “running repairs” to the building, and says closure would wipe out £60,000-worth of maintenance work.

However, since the court is housed in a listed building, the Justice Department would struggle to sell it off for development and may need to find another use for the existing building.

This is not the first time Harrow Magistrates Court has been under threat.

In 2003, plans were drawn up for its closure, but were shelved after a strong protest from magistrates and from Harrow Council.