Magistrates’ Court Bulletin July to September 2011 (Provisional Figures)

Contents

Summary

Magistrates’ sittings

  Scheduled Additional Special
Criminal 771 46 54
Youth 138 0 0
Family 248 6 0
Total 1,157 52 54

Adult defendants received and disposed

Figure 1: Percentage of adults received and disposed of in the court divisions
  Adults received Adults disposed
Craigavon 10% 10%
Ards 11% 11%
Armagh 9% 10%
Fermanagh 14% 15%
Antrim 12% 12%
Londonderry 10% 9%
Belfast 34% 32%

Youth defendants received and disposed

Figure 2: Percentage of youths received and disposed of in the court divisions
  Youths received Youths disposed
Craigavon 11% 10%
Ards 16% 18%
Armagh 5% 6%
Fermanagh 12% 14%
Antrim 12% 11%
Londonderry 8% 9%
Belfast 36% 33%

Civil applications received and disposed

Figure 3: Percentage of civil applications received and disposed of in the court divisions
  Civil applications received Civil applications disposed
Craigavon 6% 7%
Ards 14% 12%
Armagh 10% 10%
Fermanagh 9% 10%
Antrim 17% 18%
Londonderry 12% 11%
Belfast 33% 32%

Waiting times

Figure 4: Waiting times in weeks in adult magistrates’ courts (1st hearing to disposal)
Craigavon 6.8
Ards 7.7
Armagh 7.2
Fermanagh 6.7
Antrim 6.1
Londonderry 6.6
Belfast 7.5

Table 1.1 Scheduled court sitting days & average court sitting times in the magistrates' courts by division & venue
  Adult criminal day Youth criminal day Family day
Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time
Belfast Laganside 256 03:41:04 45 03:09:12 67 03:07:23
Total 256 03:41:04 45 03:09:12 67 03:07:23
Londonderry Limavady 13 04:11:32   .   .
Magherafelt 11 03:34:05 6 02:30:00   .
Londonderry 55 04:17:38 9 04:10:33 21 04:03:48
Total 79 04:10:34 15 03:30:20 21 04:03:48
Antrim Antrim 17 04:27:56 6 04:07:30 9 03:47:46
Ballymena 23 03:48:15 6 02:51:40 18 02:37:46
Larne 14 04:08:55 3 02:00:00 6 03:48:20
Coleraine 39 04:37:10 6 01:48:20 12 03:56:15
Total 93 04:19:08 21 02:47:51 45 03:22:06
Fermanagh & Tyrone Dungannon 44 04:35:54 6 03:12:30 7 04:47:51
Strabane 23 02:45:00 3 02:20:00   .
Omagh 25 03:52:24 6 01:57:30 11 02:55:27
Enniskillen 23 05:14:36 5 03:21:00 3 04:05:00
Total 115 04:12:00 20 02:44:15 21 03:42:51
Armagh & South Down Armagh 20 04:19:30 3 01:11:40 2 03:10:00
Banbridge@Newry 16 04:18:45 1 03:25:00 2 02:37:30
Newry 37 03:41:37 6 03:18:20 18 03:22:46
Total 73 04:00:08 10 02:41:00 22 03:17:30
Ards Bangor 23 03:03:54   . 3 03:55:00
Downpatrick 22 05:32:43 6 04:25:00 2 03:30:00
Newtownards 41 03:10:00 10 03:06:00 37 02:38:06
Total 86 03:44:53 16 03:35:37 42 02:46:04
Craigavon Lisburn 37 04:30:43 6 02:21:40 14 04:27:30
Craigavon 32 04:28:16 5 03:05:00 16 03:23:11
Total 69 04:29:35 11 02:41:21 30 03:53:12

Table1.1a Scheduled court sitting days & average court sitting times in the magistrates' courts for Northern Ireland
  Adult criminal day Youth criminal day Family day
Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time
Northern Ireland 771 03:59:52 138 03:03:26 248 03:20:40

A court sitting day is counted as any day where the judiciary sit in court. It does not include time in chambers or days where the judiciary are sitting in chambers.

Table 1.2 Additional court sitting days & average court sitting times in the magistrates' courts by division & venue
  Adult criminal day Family day
Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time
Belfast Laganside   . 1 01:10:00
Total   . 1 01:10:00
Londonderry Londonderry 3 01:23:20 1 02:40:00
Total 3 01:23:20 1 02:40:00
Antrim Ballymena   . 1 00:15:00
Coleraine 2 02:05:00   .
Total 2 02:05:00 1 00:15:00
Fermanagh & Tyrone Dungannon 4 04:30:00 1 01:30:00
Omagh 4 03:12:30   .
Enniskillen 2 02:35:00   .
Total 10 03:36:00 1 01:30:00
Armagh & South Down Newry 3 04:36:40   .
Total 3 04:36:40   .
Ards Downpatrick 16 04:25:37   .
Newtownards 5 01:34:00 2 00:27:30
Total 21 03:44:45 2 00:27:30
Craigavon Lisburn 2 00:40:00   .
Craigavon 5 01:30:00   .
Total 7 01:15:42   .

Table 1.2a Additional court sitting days & average court sitting times in the magistrates' courts for Northern Ireland
  Adult criminal day Family day
Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time
Northern Ireland 46 03:10:00 6 01:05:00

A court sitting day is counted as any day where the judiciary sit in court. It does not include time in chambers or days where the judiciary are sitting in chambers.

Table 1.3 Special court sitting days & average court sitting times in the magistrates' courts by division & venue
  Adult criminal day
Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time
Londonderry Magherafelt 1 00:30:00
Londonderry 10 00:17:30
Total 11 00:18:38
Antrim Ballymena 7 00:22:08
Total 7 00:22:08
Fermanagh & Tyrone Omagh 9 01:01:06
Total 9 01:01:06
Armagh & South Down Newry 10 00:36:30
Total 10 00:36:30
Ards Newtownards 10 00:18:54
Total 10 00:18:54
Craigavon Lisburn 7 00:32:08
Total 7 00:32:08

Table 1.3a Special court sitting days & average court sitting times in the magistrates' courts for Northern Ireland
  Adult criminal day
Number of court sitting days Average court sitting time
Northern Ireland 54 00:31:16

A court sitting day is counted as any day where the judiciary sit in court. It does not include time in chambers or days where the judiciary are sitting in chambers.

Table 2.1 Adult criminal defendants received in the magistrates' courts by division & venue
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Departmental prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Belfast Laganside Courts 3475 929 66 4470
Division total 3475 929 66 4470
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 658 132 20 810
Limavady Court Office 180 59 5 244
Magherafelt Court Office 180 28 7 215
Division total 1018 219 32 1269
Antrim Antrim Court Office 331 63 3 397
Coleraine Court Office 528 129 17 674
Ballymena Court Office 279 95 7 381
Larne Court Office 98 42 8 148
Division total 1236 329 35 1600
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 364 67 20 451
Strabane Court Office 236 48 2 286
Enniskillen Court Office 390 73 14 477
Dungannon Court Office 582 97 17 696
Division total 1572 285 53 1910
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 227 76 17 320
Banbridge Court Office 166 29 6 201
Newry Court Office 624 98 7 729
Division total 1017 203 30 1250
Ards Newtownards Court Office 568 73 24 665
Downpatrick Court Office 341 87 8 436
Bangor Court Office 277 37 8 322
Division total 1186 197 40 1423
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 618 96 11 725
Lisburn Court Office 480 155 10 645
Division total 1098 251 21 1370

Table 2.1a Adult criminal defendants received in the magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Departmental prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Northern Ireland 10602 2413 277 13292

Table 2.2 Adult criminal defendants disposed of in the magistrates' court by division & venue
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Departmental prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Belfast Laganside Courts 3237 931 66 4234
Division total 3237 931 66 4234
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 646 120 20 786
Limavady Court Office 181 64 5 250
Magherafelt Court Office 187 23 5 215
Division total 1014 207 30 1251
Antrim Antrim Court Office 374 74 3 451
Coleraine Court Office 513 122 15 650
Ballymena Court Office 247 80 8 335
Larne Court Office 99 44 8 151
Division total 1233 320 34 1587
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 417 71 21 509
Strabane Court Office 218 48 2 268
Enniskillen Court Office 411 66 14 491
Dungannon Court Office 619 111 17 747
Division total 1665 296 54 2015
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 228 68 17 313
Banbridge Court Office 157 30 8 195
Newry Court Office 700 103 8 811
Division total 1085 201 33 1319
Ards Newtownards Court Office 523 84 24 631
Downpatrick Court Office 413 79 8 500
Bangor Court Office 304 33 9 346
Division total 1240 196 41 1477
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 549 96 11 656
Lisburn Court Office 498 155 12 665
Division total 1047 251 23 1321

Table 2.2a Adult criminal defendants disposed of in the magistrates' court in Northern Ireland
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Departmental prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Northern Ireland 10521 2402 281 13204

Table 2.3: Average waiting times in the adult magistrates' courts by division & venue
  Summons to first hearing (weeks) First hearing to finding (weeks) Finding to disposal (weeks) First hearing to disposal (weeks)
Belfast Laganside Courts 4.96 6.85 .64 7.50
Total 4.96 6.85 .64 7.50
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 4.60 5.55 1.15 6.70
Limavady Court Office 4.90 4.11 .54 4.65
Magherafelt Court Office 4.99 7.82 .72 8.55
Total 4.73 5.66 .95 6.61
Antrim Antrim Court Office 4.33 5.90 .95 6.85
Coleraine Court Office 4.65 5.81 .30 6.11
Ballymena Court Office 5.42 4.63 .35 4.98
Larne Court Office 5.53 5.69 .67 6.36
Total 4.81 5.57 .53 6.10
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 5.81 5.16 .44 5.60
Strabane Court Office 4.72 3.73 .45 4.18
Enniskillen Court Office 5.78 5.69 .80 6.49
Dungannon Court Office 4.84 6.94 1.54 8.48
Total 5.30 5.76 .94 6.69
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 4.96 6.50 .33 6.83
Banbridge Court Office 6.24 4.78 .48 5.25
Newry Court Office 6.38 7.45 .31 7.76
Total 6.03 6.83 .34 7.17
Ards Newtownards Court Office 6.22 4.80 .51 5.31
Downpatrick Court Office 6.63 9.49 .48 9.98
Bangor Court Office 6.19 8.35 .45 8.80
Total 6.35 7.21 .49 7.70
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 5.84 4.83 .59 5.42
Lisburn Court Office 6.31 7.24 .97 8.20
Total 6.07 6.02 .78 6.80

Bench warrants, adjourned generally and deferred sentences excluded

Table 2.3a Average waiting times in the adult magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland
  Summons to first hearing (weeks) First hearing to finding (weeks) Finding to disposal (weeks) First hearing to disposal (weeks)
Northern Ireland 5.34 6.37 .67 7.04

Bench warrants, adjourned generally and deferred sentences excluded

Table 2.4 Number and type of charges brought for adult defendants disposed of by business are
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Departmental prosecution Fixed penalty Total
All Offences Against the Person 1078 15   1093
All Sexual Offences 193     193
All Burglary Offences 134     134
All Robbery Offences 46     46
All Theft Offences 651     651
All Fraud and Forgery Offences 98 135   233
All Criminal Damage Offences 236     236
All Offences Against the State 450     450
All Other Offences 276 365   641
All Drug Offences 372     372
All Motoring Offences 4221 620   4841
All Non-Police Offences 34 1151 281 1466
All Breach 130 50   180
Combination of  charges 2602 66   2668
Total 10521 2402 281 13204

Table 2.5 Outcome of adult defendants disposed of by business area
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Departmental prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Committed to the Crown Court 512     512
Plea of guilty on all charges 4652 735   5387
All charges withdrawn 1977 660 4 2641
Fixed penalty default     277 277
Plea not guilty - found guilty on at least one charge 2916 958   3874
Plea not guilty - acquitted on all charges 464 49   513
Total 10521 2402 281 13204

Table 3.1 Youth defendants received in the magistrates' courts by division & venue
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Departmental prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Belfast Laganside Courts 256     256
Division total 256     256
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 44   1 45
Limavady Court Office 3     3
Magherafelt Court Office 9     9
Division total 56   1 57
Antrim Antrim Court Office 14     14
Coleraine Court Office 49     49
Ballymena Court Office 18     18
Larne Court Office 6     6
Division total 87     87
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 14     14
Strabane Court Office 9     9
Enniskillen Court Office 15     15
Dungannon Court Office 44 1   45
Division total 82 1   83
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 6     6
Banbridge Court Office 5     5
Newry Court Office 25     25
Division total 36     36
Ards Newtownards Court Office 57     57
Downpatrick Court Office 26     26
Bangor Court Office 34     34
Division total 117     117
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 39     39
Lisburn Court Office 37     37
Division total 76     76

Table 3.1a Youth defendants received in the magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Departmental prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Northern Ireland 710 1 1 712

Table 3.2 Youth defendants disposed of in the magistrates' courts by division & venue
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Belfast Laganside Courts 223   223
Division total 223   223
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 52 1 53
Limavady Court Office 4   4
Magherafelt Court Office 6   6
Division total 62 1 63
Antrim Antrim Court Office 28   28
Coleraine Court Office 30   30
Ballymena Court Office 12   12
Larne Court Office 3   3
Division total 73   73
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 22   22
Strabane Court Office 18   18
Enniskillen Court Office 28   28
Dungannon Court Office 26   26
Division total 94   94
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 7   7
Banbridge Court Office 9   9
Newry Court Office 23   23
Division total 39   39
Ards Newtownards Court Office 49   49
Downpatrick Court Office 37   37
Bangor Court Office 36   36
Division total 122   122
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 31   31
Lisburn Court Office 35   35
Division total 66   66

Table 3.2a Youth defendants disposed of in the magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Northern Ireland 679 1 680

Table 3.3 Average waiting times in the youth magistrates' courts by division & venue
  Summons to first hearing (weeks) First hearing to finding (weeks) Finding to disposal (weeks)
Belfast Laganside Courts 3.78 7.35 4.31
Total 3.78 7.35 4.31
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 3.57 7.78 4.67
Limavady Court Office 7.14 .00 4.50
Magherafelt Court Office 5.48 8.33 6.67
Total 3.95 7.53 4.91
Antrim Antrim Court Office 2.21 7.78 6.11
Coleraine Court Office 3.76 5.82 .82
Ballymena Court Office 4.23 1.60 .94
Larne Court Office 3.86 3.57 2.00
Total 3.16 6.08 3.12
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 4.68 5.90 2.49
Strabane Court Office 3.48 5.64 3.19
Enniskillen Court Office 4.26 8.69 4.45
Dungannon Court Office 4.21 7.59 3.44
Total 4.25 7.16 3.46
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 2.23 5.80 1.00
Banbridge Court Office 1.24 14.51 3.86
Newry Court Office 3.44 8.60 1.15
Total 2.58 9.70 1.88
Ards Newtownards Court Office 4.88 5.39 3.57
Downpatrick Court Office 5.07 10.47 3.74
Bangor Court Office 6.10 4.11 3.47
Total 5.35 6.55 3.59
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 4.54 11.37 2.69
Lisburn Court Office 4.54 7.25 3.11
Total 4.54 9.23 2.91

Bench warrants, adjourned generally and deferred sentences excluded

Table 3.3a Average waiting times in the youth magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland
  Summons to first hearing (weeks) First hearing to finding (weeks) Finding to disposal (weeks)
Northern Ireland 4.12 7.40 3.70

Bench warrants, adjourned generally and deferred sentences excluded

Table 3.4 Number and type of charges brought for youth defendants disposed of by business area
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Fixed penalty Total
All Offences Against the Person 127   127
All Sexual Offences 9   9
All Burglary Offences 29   29
All Robbery Offences 3   3
All Theft Offences 67   67
All Fraud and Forgery Offences 1   1
All Criminal Damage Offences 56   56
All Offences Against the State 54   54
All Other Offences 26   26
All Drug Offences 11   11
All Motoring Offences 54   54
All Non-Police Offences   1 1
All Breach 7   7
Combination of  charges 235   235
Total 679 1 680

Table 3.5 Outcome of youth defendants disposed of by business area
  PSNI/PPS prosecution Fixed penalty Total
Committed to the Crown Court 6   6
Plea of guilty on all charges 253   253
All charges withdrawn 253   253
Fixed penalty default   1 1
Plea not guilty - found guilty on at least one charge 137   137
Plea not guilty - acquitted on all charges 30   30
Total 679 1 680

Table 4.1 Number of civil applications received in the magistrates' court by division & venue
  Current Business Area Total
Domestic Proceedings Family Homes and Domestic Violence
Belfast Laganside Courts 49 510 559
Division total 49 510 559
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 15 163 178
Limavady Court Office   12 12
Magherafelt Court Office 1 13 14
Division total 16 188 204
Antrim Antrim Court Office 4 54 58
Coleraine Court Office 15 118 133
Ballymena Court Office 7 69 76
Larne Court Office 1 18 19
Division total 27 259 286
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 2 37 39
Strabane Court Office 1 17 18
Enniskillen Court Office 4 22 26
Dungannon Court Office 7 64 71
Division total 14 140 154
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 6 18 24
Banbridge Court Office 3 15 18
Newry Court Office 15 106 121
Division total 24 139 163
Ards Newtownards Court Office 20 115 135
Downpatrick Court Office 5 56 61
Bangor Court Office 1 34 35
Division total 26 205 231
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 7 37 44
Lisburn Court Office 10 47 57
Division total 17 84 101

Table 4.1a Number of civil applications received in the magistrates' court in Northern Ireland
  Current Business Area Total
Domestic Proceedings Family Homes and Domestic Violence
Northern Ireland 173 1525 1698

Table 4.2 Number of civil applications disposed in the magistrates' court by division & venue
  Current Business Area Total
Domestic Proceedings Family Homes and Domestic Violence
Belfast Laganside Courts 42 436 478
Division total 42 436 478
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 9 125 134
Limavady Court Office   12 12
Magherafelt Court Office   16 16
Division total 9 153 162
Antrim Antrim Court Office 5 59 64
Coleraine Court Office 14 103 117
Ballymena Court Office 12 58 70
Larne Court Office 1 21 22
Division total 32 241 273
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 2 41 43
Strabane Court Office   14 14
Enniskillen Court Office 7 24 31
Dungannon Court Office 8 58 66
Division total 17 137 154
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 6 17 23
Banbridge Court Office 5 15 20
Newry Court Office 14 97 111
Division total 25 129 154
Ards Newtownards Court Office 15 94 109
Downpatrick Court Office 3 38 41
Bangor Court Office   34 34
Division total 18 166 184
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 5 44 49
Lisburn Court Office 8 49 57
Division total 13 93 106

Table 4.2a Number of civil applications disposed in the magistrates' court in Northern Ireland
  Current Business Area Total
Domestic Proceedings Family Homes and Domestic Violence
Northern Ireland 156 1355 1511

Table 4.3 Average waiting times in the civil magistrates' courts by division & venue
  Date of issue to first hearing (weeks) First hearing to disposal (weeks)
Belfast Laganside Courts 1.82 6.46
Total 1.82 6.46
Londonderry Londonderry Court Office 1.56 4.65
Limavady Court Office 1.80 3.58
Magherafelt Court Office 2.79 5.88
Total 1.70 4.69
Antrim Antrim Court Office 3.32 3.72
Coleraine Court Office 1.48 4.19
Ballymena Court Office 1.55 4.15
Larne Court Office 3.10 1.27
Total 2.06 3.83
Fermanagh and Tyrone Omagh Court Office 1.79 4.32
Strabane Court Office 1.56 .86
Enniskillen Court Office 2.34 6.62
Dungannon Court Office 1.73 1.84
Total 1.86 3.40
Armagh and South Down Armagh Court Office 2.70 4.07
Banbridge Court Office 2.32 4.10
Newry Court Office 1.64 5.69
Total 1.88 5.24
Ards Newtownards Court Office 1.71 6.86
Downpatrick Court Office 1.65 3.20
Bangor Court Office 1.80 5.55
Total 1.72 5.80
Craigavon Craigavon Court Office 1.00 9.98
Lisburn Court Office .77 10.52
Total .88 10.27

Table 4.3a Average waiting times in the civil magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland
  Date of issue to first hearing (weeks) First hearing to disposal (weeks)
Northern Ireland 1.78 5.55

Table 4.4 Outcome of applications under Family Homes & Domestic Violence Order in the magistrates' court in Northern Ireland
  New Order Total
Granted Dismissed or refused Withdrawn Vary discharge Other
Non molestation 789 214 226 85 1 1315
Occupation 5 3 10 3   21
Vary discharge non-mol occupation 3 4 4 8   19
Total 797 221 240 96 1 1355

Data source and validations:

Data from the Integrated Courts Operations System (ICOS) are used for this publication.  This system has been chosen as it is the main system within the Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service (NICTS).  The data are input to this system on a daily basis.  A download from this system is supplied to the Statistics and Research team on a weekly basis on flat files.

This information is downloaded via SPSS and validations are produced from this system to ensure that the data are reliable and robust for use.  Any inconsistencies are reported back to individual court offices and if required, any necessary amendments are made to the data.  Once, these amendments have been checked, computer syntax is then used to produce the tables in the bulletin.  The aggregated total figures in the bulletin are produced from the computer syntax.  The data are broken down by court location as this is the established way of producing and presenting these data.
To ensure that timely data are used, the latest available extract is used to compile this bulletin.

For further information on this publication please contact:

A Mallon
Statistics and Research
Northern Ireland Courts and Tribunals Service
Laganside House
23-27 Oxford Street
Belfast
BT1 3LA

Tel: 028 9072 8928