Today's coveragepublished at 18:00
The Local Live page for Northamptonshire has finished for today.
We'll be back tomorrow from 08:00 with all the latest news, weather, sport and travel for the county.
Summary
Updates for Monday 7 September 2015
News, sport, travel and weather updates resume at 08:00 Tuesday
Today's coveragepublished at 18:00
Evening weather: Dry tonight a bit of cloud tomorrowpublished at 17:55
It will be a dry evening and night, although for most it will remain rather cloudy with a minimum temperature of 10C (50F).
Most places will see a fair amount of cloud once again tomorrow although with the cloud being fairly thin, we should see some bright or sunny spells develop at times with a maximum temperature of 16C (61F).
Justice Minister wants 'a system that is less stressful for all concerned'published at 17:38
Pete Cooper
BBC Local LiveJustice Minister Shailesh Vara said the delays in Magistrates' Courts, which figures show are getting worse, were not "acceptable".
Image source, PAQuote MessageThe magistrates are stating the obvious. There are delays. We know that. We want to make sure that delays are minimised if not eliminated completely, because it is important that justice takes place efficiently and properly and to make a system that is less stressful for all concerned.
Shailesh Vara, Justice Minister
Courts live: What have we been doing and why have we been doing it?published at 17:25
Pete Cooper
BBC Local LiveFigures obtained by the BBC show lengthening delays in the time taken for cases to be dealt with by magistrates.
All through today we've been looking at what people have been telling us about court delays, looking at some of the reasons behind it, and what can be done about it.
If you want to find out more you can read the updates on this page or look at the #slowjustice hashtag on Twitter, external.
Courts: Are the increasing lengths of court cases down to cuts to the system?published at 17:06
Pete Cooper
BBC Local LiveThe Crown Prosecution Service nationally has seen its budget cut by 30% in the last five years with a loss of almost 3,000 staff meaning there are less people dealing with cases. The probation service has undergone a number of changes and restructuring and there have been to cuts to legal aid.
Image source, PAThis summer, the charity Victim Support said delays at crown courts are now the worst they’ve been for 15 years, external and it’s having a detrimental effect on the innocent people caught up in crime.
Northampton Magistrates' Court: 'No-show' in last case of the daypublished at 16:48
Craig Lewis
BBC NewsAt Northampton Magistrates' Court it's the last case of the day.
But unfortunately it will be adjourned as the defendant hasn't turned up at court.
Northampton Magistrates' Court: Drunk and disorderly case adjourned for two monthspublished at 16:37
Craig Lewis
BBC NewsThe next case is a man charged with being drunk and disorderly.
The defence solicitor says the defendant may have Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) and shouldn't live on his own.
The chairwoman of the magistrates adjourns the case for two months while the defendant gets medical help.
Northampton Magistrates' Court: More delayspublished at 16:25
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End of twitter postPolice identify pilot who died in crash at Hinton-in-the-Hedgespublished at 16:16
Richard Haugh
BBC NewsAdam Abraham, 39, from south-west London has been named as the pilot who died after the light aircraft he was flying crashed at Hinton-in-the Hedges airfield, near Brackley, Northamptonshire, on Friday.
Image source, Geograph: Julian DowseEast Midlands Ambulance Service arrived at the airfield "within minutes" after 12:10 but could not save him.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch is leading the investigation into the crash with local police.
Northampton Magistrates' Court: Assault case back in court after seven monthspublished at 16:06
Craig Lewis
BBC NewsThe next case is that of Michael Percival, which first went to court almost seven months ago. He's up for sentencing for assault by beating.
The assault, in which Percival threw a purse at his girlfriend and hit her on the legs, took place on February 3. Percival pleaded guilty eight days later.
It seems the probation report includes too much information and should only have concentrated on the facts relating to the basis of Percival's plea.
Percival is sentenced purely on basis of that plea and given a fine of £285 plus court costs, to be paid at a rate of £40 per week.
How a magistrates' court workspublished at 15:49
Craig Lewis
BBC NewsThis BBC article gives an overview of how a magistrates' court works and the people who appear there.
Although it was written in 2010 and refers to the magistrates' court at Highbury Corner, north London, the protagonists within the court would still be the same throughout the country now.
And interestingly it came at a time when the government had revealed 93 magistrates' courts were to be closed in England and Wales - a further 91 face the same threat now.
Courts: Gove wants to digitise the justice systempublished at 15:41
Pete Cooper
BBC Local LiveSecretary of State for Justice Michael Gove wants £700m invested in what he has called our “dysfunctional, creaking and outdated” court system.
Image source, PAHe wants to see courts digitised to speed up trial procedures – meaning lawyers and staff can use email instead of printing everything off on paper.
Greater use of video and conferencing technology in court rooms is another plan - so evidence can be given remotely from say a police station, rather than an officer having to spend a day in court.
Northampton Magistrates' Court: Man can't have tagpublished at 15:25
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End of twitter post 2Northampton Magistrates' Court: Nothing happening but it's 'plush and spacious'published at 15:16
Craig Lewis
BBC NewsI've returned to Northampton Magistrates' Court and sat in Court Six for five minutes and nothing happened, so I moved to Court One and nothing is happening here either.
Court One is as plush and spacious a magistrates' court as I've been in. I would love to take a picture to show you, but sadly taking photographs in court is illegal.
Courts: Local justice is going to diepublished at 15:11
Corby Magistrates' Court takes 108 days on average to process cases – one of the slowest courts in the country, and it could close as part of a plan to modernise the justice system, and local magistrates say that justice is going to suffer.
Quote MessageMagistrates have been going since 1361 and bringing people to court to deliver local justice and that is going to die - and local justice is effective justice because it can take place quickly - if it’s dealt with by local people, in a local court. The population of these towns want this.
Terry Knights, Corby Magistrates' Bench chairman
Pilot who died in accident on Friday has been identifiedpublished at 14:58
Sarah Foster
BBC Radio NorthamptonThe pilot who died in an accident at Hinton-in-the-Hedges on Friday has now been formally identified as 39-year-old Adam Abraham.
Mr Abraham lived in south-west London.
He died after the light aircraft he was flying was involved in an accident at the south Northamptonshire airfield just after noon on Friday.
Courts: What is causing the delays in Northamptonshire?published at 14:34
Pete Cooper
BBC Local LiveLast year the CPS in Northamptonshire was singled out by government inspectors as needing to improve – to work more efficiently and reduce delays.
Image source, PABut most of the problems in the county’s courts are replicated nationally - the right people, such as translators, witnesses or defendants, not turning up for hearings; delays in preparing the prosecution case; paperwork not in order; or video links not working.
Courts live: Why are we doing it?published at 14:19
Pete Cooper
BBC Local LiveFigures obtained by the BBC show lengthening delays in the time taken for cases to be dealt with by magistrates. Funding cuts have contributed to what some are calling a ‘postcode lottery’ in the administration of justice.
All through today on Local Live we'll be looking at our courts and how they work and why there are delays.
Image source, ThinkstockNorthampton Magistrates' Court: Mail theft case can't go aheadpublished at 14:10
Craig Lewis
BBC NewsThe court is hearing the case of a man who had been arrested on a 'no bail' warrant. He should have been at court on 23 August regarding theft of a mail bag.
He was apparently sent a letter telling him to attend court, but was registered as no fixed abode so he couldn't have got it.
The duty solicitor says he cannot deal with the theft of a mail bag case as the defendant has already been given advice at a previous hearing.
Afternoon weather: Sunshine and some cloudpublished at 13:55
It will remain dry throughout the day although there may be a bit of cloud around - but there should be good sunshine.
Top temperature today of 18C (64F).
