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National cross local justice protocol

The National Cross Local Justice Area (LJA) protocol applies to all magistrates’ courts in England and Wales.

It has been developed by a national cross agency working group and approved for implementation by the criminal justice system strategic command.

Under the protocol, defendants will be produced in custody on immediate cross LJA cases before the court (with video-link) local to arrest (the receiving court).

This will reduce the need for significant unnecessary transportation across local justice areas to the originating court. The receiving court will then hear the case as if it were the originating court.

Additionally, the protocol ensures that the court and parties identify outstanding cross LJA cases e.g. warrants issued by, or cases scheduled to, a magistrates’ court in another local justice area.

The receiving court may then decide to deal with these to efficiently consolidate and progress matters.

This will reduce the need for future hearings, future travel and enable courts to make informed decisions based on a defendant’s overall offending.

The protocol sets out the responsibilities of each agency by section.

All criminal justice agencies are issuing communications and guidance to their staff to support the implementation of the protocol.