Hearings at Blackburn Magistrates' Court had an unusual spectator yesterday -- constitutional affairs minister Harriet Harman.
She toured the court in Northgate, meeting staff and observing proceedings as part of a visit to be updated on progress within the criminal justice system in Blackburn and Lancashire.
Her visit was prompted by Lancashire's success during a recent national enforcement blitz to catch people failing to pay court fines, or attend court hearings.
Around 1,129 people who had failed to comply with court demands were chased up.
Lancashire collected £12,785.96 in fines during the blitz.
Ms Harman said: "Visiting Blackburn gives me a chance to meet the very people whose work has contributed to these very encouraging figures.
"When more trials go ahead as planned, more offenders are brought to justice and this increases victim satisfaction and public confidence in the criminal justice system."
"It also gives me the opportunity to hear what's working well and not so well in this part of Lancashire."
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