COURTS must belong to the public they serve, a local police commissioner has argued.

Comments from Dyfed-Powys’ commissioner Christopher Salmon come as plans progress to sell off Abergavenny’s courthouse.

The Tudor Street facility hasn’t been used for some time, with the ‘local’ courts now shifting to distant Newport and Cwmbran.

The switch has angered many who complain the cost of attending far-away courts punishes those least able to afford the transport.

One Gwent Police officer said of the move, “In an ideal world everyone would want a courthouse in their town.

“But we have to accept the harsh reality of the economic times we live in where the funds simply are no longer available to maintain such a localised service.”

A spokesman for the Ministry of Justice, handling the sale of Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court, said, “The former Abergavenny Magistrates’ Court was announced for closure on July 9 2015 and has since been closed.

“Preparations for sale are underway and we expect to go to market very shortly.”

Commissioner Salmon’s observations appear to run against the grain of the current trend of shutdowns.

He said, “Courts need to be more flexible but that must not come at the expense of local justice. They must belong to the communities they serve.

“There’s no reason for a reduction in service for rural courts. I’m calling on Government to give responsibility for local courts to Police and Crime Commissioners. We can then ensure that local needs are met.”

He added, “Local justice is the bedrock of law and order and I’m determined that, working with the Justice Secretary, we can improve it.”

His remarks came after a poll in the two counties revealed that the message from the public was, ‘Bring our courts back to us!’

Locals wanted their courts to sit in new places and at new times.

They told Mr Salmon that along with traditional courtrooms, justice should be delivered in other local buildings. They say courts should operate more often outside office hours.

He says he will now consider the public views as he works with the Dyfed-Powys Criminal Justice Board to improve the delivery of justice.

Mr Salmon said, “The public want local justice to be more flexible with its locations and timings. They want it to be local, accessible and in tune with modern lifestyles.

“This reflects a demand for a return to local justice. In years gone by, magistrates and courts would have come to the people. Increasingly over recent years people have had to travel further to their courts.

“I will report the public’s thoughts to Criminal Justice Board members.”

The public views came in a survey which Mr Salmon ran this summer. More than 800 people answered a total of around 10,000 questions on subjects including local justice.

Results suggest a desire for courts to sit in community council chambers (66 per cent of those who responded), other community buildings (25 per cent) and schools (nine per cent). The public would like to see courts held on evenings and weekends (62 per cent).

Mr Salmon said, “The public know their nearest court and they like local justice, with many willing to get actively involved.”

This summer the UK Government consulted with the public on the future of court buildings, with 11 Welsh courts facing closure.