OFFENDERS are waiting too long in the law courts to have their cases heard.

That is one of the major criticisms levelled at the management committee of Greater Manchester North's Magistrates' Courts Committee (MCC) following an inspection of its five court houses in Bury, Bolton, Rochdale, Salford and Wigan.

Recommending improved efforts to review the court list and waiting time procedure, the HM Magistrates' Courts Service Inspectorate went on to praise the Greater Manchester North MCC's work since the five areas amalgamated under the one management structure nearly two years ago.

All of Manchester's independent MCCs will form a new Greater Manchester MCC in April 2002 as part of the Lord Chancellor's efforts to streamline the management of the country's magistrates courts. Other major recommendations for improvement of the judicial system in north and west Greater Manchester include improved facilities for defence witnesses, provision for disabled court users, and more ways for people to pay fines.

A spokesman for the MCC said: "The majority of the recommendations are accepted as they relate almost entirely to matters which the MCC was either aware of or had begun to address.

"The sometimes difficult issues tackled by this MCC, and the experience gained by dealing with them, will no doubt be of value to the Greater Manchester MCC when it comes into existence in a few years."

As a result of the inspection, Burys Magistrates Court was given a clean bill of health.

The Tenters Street court house was commended for its quality of service provided to court users who were also treated with courtesy, although court listing and case waiting times was recommended for review.

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