Magistrates’ Court Bulletin

Jul - Sep 2009 (Provisional figures)

The roll out of the new court operations system called the Integrated Court Operations System (ICOS) has been completed throughout the divisions. Caution should be taken when comparing figures with previous quarters. For further advice on the differences between the current figures and previous quarters, please contact the NICtS. Figures are run from an administrative database and may change due to late returns and further validations.

 

Summary

Figure 1 - Percentage of adults entered and disposed of in the court divisions

Figure 1 - Percentage of adults entered and disposed of in the court divisions

Figure 2 - Waiting times in weeks in adult magistrates’ courts

Figure 2 - Waiting times in weeks in adult magistrates’ courts

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

244

3:19:13

38

3:34:44

69

3:17:19

Total

244

3:19:13

38

3:34:44

69

3:17:19

Londonderry

Limavady

15

4:18:20

 

.

 

.

Magherafelt

17

2:25:35

6

1:31:40

 

.

Londonderry

50

4:33:30

9

3:49:26

21

3:56:14

Total

82

4:04:12

15

2:54:20

21

3:56:14

Antrim

Antrim

15

4:39:00

6

1:41:40

6

3:25:50

Ballymena

26

3:55:04

7

1:34:17

19

3:07:37

Larne

12

3:38:45

3

2:54:20

6

2:12:30

Coleraine

40

5:18:37

6

3:25:50

11

3:37:16

Total

93

4:35:59

22

2:17:38

42

3:10:07

Fermanagh & Tyrone

Dungannon

41

4:17:33

6

1:56:40

9

3:41:40

Strabane

24

3:09:22

3

3:05:00

 

.

Omagh

30

3:14:20

6

3:30:00

11

3:57:43

Enniskillen

22

4:49:57

6

3:06:40

3

1:53:00

Total

117

3:53:27

21

2:53:05

23

3:35:10

Armagh & South Down

Armagh

19

3:42:37

5

2:30:00

1

2:00:00

Banbridge@Newry

12

3:22:30

3

3:06:40

1

3:30:00

Newry

38

3:59:28

6

3:08:20

15

3:41:20

Total

69

3:48:24

14

2:54:17

17

3:34:42

Ards

Bangor

21

3:36:40

 

.

6

1:55:50

Downpatrick

26

4:36:41

6

2:35:50

3

4:35:00

Newtownards

40

2:36:00

11

2:47:16

44

2:30:47

Total

87

3:26:42.

17

2:43:14

53

2:33:52

Craigavon

Lisburn

40

3:54:37

6

2:35:50

11

3:32:43

Craigavon

36

3:25:41

5

2:44:00

12

2:52:55

Total

76

3:40:55

11

2:39:32

23

3:11:57

 

 

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

768

3:44:09

138

2:56:52

248

3:12:27

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

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

 

.

 

.

2

1:40:00

Total

 

.

 

.

2

1:40:00

Londonderry

Limavady

1

5:15:00

 

.

 

.

Londonderry

 

.

 

.

1

4:45:00

Total

1

5:15:00

 

.

1

4:45:00

Antrim

Ballymena

3

2:08:20

 

.

 

.

Coleraine

2

1:50:00

 

.

 

.

Total

5

2:01:00

 

.

 

.

Fermanagh & Tyrone

Dungannon

1

4:45:00

 

.

 

.

Omagh

1

0:45:00

 

.

 

.

Enniskillen

3

4:02:19

 

.

 

.

Total

5

3:31:23

 

.

 

.

Armagh & South Down

Armagh

6

3:26:40

 

.

 

.

Newry

11

2:39:32

 

.

 

.

Total

17

2:56:10

 

.

 

.

Ards

Bangor

 

.

 

.

1

1:30:00

Downpatrick

5

3:48:00

 

.

 

.

Newtownards

9

2:18:20

1

1:00:00

2

2:27:30

Total

14

2:50:21

1

1:00:00

3

2:08:20

Craigavon

Lisburn

1

0:15:00

 

.

 

.

Craigavon

2

2:27:30

1

1:50:00

 

.

Total

3

1:43:20

1

1:50:00

 

.

 

 

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

45

2:50:22

2

1:25:00

6

2:25:00

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

Londonderry

9

0:51:40

Total

9

0:51:40

Antrim

Ballymena

12

0:42:55

Total

12

0:42:55

Fermanagh & Tyrone

Omagh

7

0:48:34

Total

7

0:48:34

Armagh & South Down

Newry

10

0:43:54

Total

10

0:43:54

Ards

Newtownards

10

0:25:00

Total

10

0:25:00

Craigavon

Lisburn

5

0:34:00

Craigavon

3

0:11:40

Total

8

0:25:37

 

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

56

0:39:32

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

2793

1204

67

4064

Division total

2793

1204

67

4064

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

739

158

12

909

Limavady Court Office

252

36

2

290

Magherafelt Court Office

211

56

6

273

Division total

1202

250

20

1472

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

402

121

7

530

Coleraine Court Office

561

185

22

768

Ballymena Court Office

302

132

8

442

Larne Court Office

99

85

5

189

Division total

1364

523

42

1929

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

398

90

29

517

Strabane Court Office

215

58

9

282

Enniskillen Court Office

336

101

8

445

Dungannon Court Office

720

206

22

948

Division total

1669

455

68

2192

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

250

120

10

380

Banbridge Court Office

277

61

3

341

Newry Court Office

689

251

13

953

Division total

1216

432

26

1674

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

490

142

 

632

Downpatrick Court Office

366

136

4

506

Bangor Court Office

320

76

6

402

Division total

1176

354

10

1540

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

481

160

45

686

Lisburn Court Office

554

201

19

774

Division total

1035

361

64

1460

 

Table 2.1 Adult criminal defendants received in the magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland

 

PSNI/PPS prosecution

Departmental prosecution

Fixed penalty

Total

Northern Ireland

10455

3579

297

14331

 

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

2647

1003

67

3717

Divsion total

2647

1003

67

3717

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

698

171

12

881

Limavady Court Office

278

35

2

315

Magherafelt Court Office

202

51

6

259

Divsion total

1178

257

20

1455

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

385

123

7

515

Coleraine Court Office

530

181

22

733

Ballymena Court Office

271

127

8

406

Larne Court Office

106

76

5

187

Divsion total

1292

507

42

1841

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

352

86

28

466

Strabane Court Office

209

62

9

280

Enniskillen Court Office

315

104

8

427

Dungannon Court Office

690

184

22

896

Divsion total

1566

436

67

2069

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

220

113

11

344

Banbridge Court Office

291

62

3

356

Newry Court Office

614

235

11

860

Divsion total

1125

410

25

1560

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

386

118

4

508

Downpatrick Court Office

341

138

4

483

Bangor Court Office

285

66

6

357

Divsion total

1012

322

14

1348

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

407

140

43

590

Lisburn Court Office

481

188

19

688

Divsion total

888

328

62

1278

 

Table 2.2 Adult criminal defendants disposed of in the magistrates' court in Northern Ireland

 

PSNI/PPS prosecution

Departmental prosecution

Fixed penalty

Total

Northern Ireland

9708

3263

297

13268

 

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

7.35

5.12

.63

5.75

Total

7.35

5.12

.63

5.75

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

7.45

5.73

.95

6.68

Limavady Court Office

6.72

5.35

.42

5.78

Magherafelt Court Office

7.89

3.71

.97

4.68

Total

7.37

5.29

.84

6.12

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

8.89

4.82

.39

5.21

Coleraine Court Office

7.66

10.82

.59

11.41

Ballymena Court Office

7.96

6.26

.51

6.77

Larne Court Office

10.54

5.46

.34

5.80

Total

8.37

7.58

.49

8.07

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

9.12

4.75

.71

5.47

Strabane Court Office

6.96

3.97

.35

4.32

Enniskillen Court Office

7.01

3.31

.91

4.23

Dungannon Court Office

7.93

5.46

.87

6.33

Total

7.89

4.67

.77

5.44

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

7.96

5.79

.35

6.13

Banbridge Court Office

6.47

5.15

.47

5.62

Newry Court Office

8.37

6.13

.79

6.92

Total

7.85

5.83

.62

6.45

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

8.61

4.68

.40

5.08

Downpatrick Court Office

7.67

8.41

.81

9.23

Bangor Court Office

7.86

7.40

1.31

8.72

Total

8.07

6.74

.79

7.53

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

10.56

3.54

.53

4.07

Lisburn Court Office

7.90

6.51

.99

7.50

Total

9.12

5.15

.78

5.93

Bench warrants, adjourned generally and deferred sentences excluded

 

Table 2.3: 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

7.88

5.66

.69

6.35

Bench warrants, adjourned generally and deferred sentences excluded

 

Table 2.4: Number and type of charges brought for adult defendants disposed of by business area

 

PSNI/PPS prosecution

Departmental prosecution

Fixed penalty

Total

All Offences Against the Person

833

 

 

833

All Sexual Offences

193

 

 

193

All Burglary Offences

127

 

 

127

All Robbery Offences

31

 

 

31

All Theft Offences

600

 

 

600

All Fraud and Forgery Offences

55

78

 

133

All Criminal Damage Offences

231

 

 

231

All Offences Against the State

42

 

 

42

All Other Offences

740

123

 

863

All Drug Offences

289

 

 

289

All Motoring Offences

4488

190

 

4678

All Non-Police Offences

72

2631

297

3000

All Breach

166

178

 

344

Combination of  charges

1841

63

 

1904

Total

9708

3263

297

13268

 

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

430

 

 

430

Plea of guilty on all charges

4257

815

 

5072

All charges withdrawn

1846

904

12

2762

Fixed penalty default

 

 

285

285

Plea not guilty - found guilty on at least one charge

2696

1425

 

4121

Plea not guilty - acquitted on all charges

479

119

 

598

Total

9708

3263

297

13268

 

Table 3.1 Youth defendants received in the magistrates' courts by division & venue

 

PSNI/PPS prosecution

Departmental prosecution

Total

Belfast

Laganside Courts

220

2

222

Division total

220

2

222

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

90

1

91

Limavady Court Office

11

 

11

Magherafelt Court Office

10

 

10

Division total

111

1

112

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

29

1

30

Coleraine Court Office

50

3

53

Ballymena Court Office

26

5

31

Larne Court Office

9

 

9

Division total

114

9

123

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

14

1

15

Strabane Court Office

12

 

12

Enniskillen Court Office

32

 

32

Dungannon Court Office

45

 

45

Division total

103

1

104

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

11

 

11

Banbridge Court Office

16

 

16

Newry Court Office

43

2

45

Division total

70

2

72

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

51

2

53

Downpatrick Court Office

25

 

25

Bangor Court Office

44

 

44

Division total

120

2

122

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

38

2

40

Lisburn Court Office

37

 

37

Division total

75

2

77

 

Table 3.1 Youth defendants received in the magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland

 

PSNI/PPS prosecution

Departmental prosecution

Total

Northern Ireland

813

19

832

 

Table 3.2 Youth defendants disposed of in the magistrates' courts by division & venue

 

PSNI/PPS prosecution

Departmental prosecution

Total

Belfast

Laganside Courts

205

8

213

Divsion total

205

8

213

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

110

2

112

Limavady Court Office

8

 

8

Magherafelt Court Office

8

 

8

Divsion total

126

2

128

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

23

1

24

Coleraine Court Office

34

4

38

Ballymena Court Office

24

2

26

Larne Court Office

6

 

6

Divsion total

87

7

94

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

17

 

17

Strabane Court Office

13

 

13

Enniskillen Court Office

16

1

17

Dungannon Court Office

20

 

20

Divsion total

66

1

67

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

14

 

14

Banbridge Court Office

8

 

8

Newry Court Office

35

2

37

Divsion total

57

2

59

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

33

2

35

Downpatrick Court Office

23

 

23

Bangor Court Office

41

3

44

Divsion total

97

5

102

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

31

2

33

Lisburn Court Office

48

 

48

Divsion total

79

2

81

 

Table 3.2 Youth defendants disposed of in the magistrates' courts in Northern Ireland

 

PSNI/PPS prosecution

Departmental prosecution

Total

Northern Ireland

717

27

744

 

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

5.28

6.42

3.63

Total

5.28

6.42

3.63

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

5.25

4.74

4.84

Limavady Court Office

4.98

2.00

2.43

Magherafelt Court Office

8.33

6.17

.67

Total

5.42

4.63

4.41

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

10.06

7.20

1.64

Coleraine Court Office

6.23

22.01

2.14

Ballymena Court Office

2.83

7.68

3.60

Larne Court Office

5.89

5.26

2.17

Total

6.37

13.37

2.37

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

7.03

5.51

2.44

Strabane Court Office

7.31

8.02

1.08

Enniskillen Court Office

5.80

6.99

1.30

Dungannon Court Office

6.17

2.82

3.41

Total

6.61

5.54

2.21

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

4.33

6.71

3.46

Banbridge Court Office

8.65

13.63

2.00

Newry Court Office

4.12

11.74

2.05

Total

4.81

10.80

2.38

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

5.74

8.09

1.99

Downpatrick Court Office

5.63

11.35

7.79

Bangor Court Office

7.25

10.65

6.04

Total

6.33

9.79

4.80

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

5.78

5.29

2.96

Lisburn Court Office

5.22

12.38

3.82

Total

5.48

9.12

3.43

 

Bench warrants, adjourned generally and deferred sentences excluded

 

Table 3.3: 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

5.69

8.00

3.51

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

Departmental prosecution

Total

All Offences Against the Person

114

 

114

All Sexual Offences

10

 

10

All Burglary Offences

33

 

33

All Robbery Offences

1

 

1

All Theft Offences

81

 

81

All Fraud and Forgery Offences

 

1

1

All Criminal Damage Offences

66

 

66

All Offences Against the State

2

 

2

All Other Offences

90

 

90

All Drug Offences

16

 

16

All Motoring Offences

78

 

78

All Non-Police Offences

1

1

2

All Breach

7

25

32

Combination of  charges

218

 

218

Total

717

27

744

 

Table 3.5: Outcome of youth defendants disposed of by business area

 

PSNI/PPS prosecution

Departmental prosecution

Total

Committed to the Crown Court

20

 

20

Plea of guilty on all charges

291

6

297

All charges withdrawn

224

10

234

Plea not guilty - found guilty on at least one charge

156

3

159

Plea not guilty - acquitted on all charges

26

8

34

Total

717

27

744

 

Table 4.1 Number of civil applications received in the magistrates' court by division & venue

 

Domestic Proceedings

Family Homes & Domestic Violence

Total

Belfast

Laganside Courts

54

468

522

Division total

54

468

522

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

31

165

196

Limavady Court Office

 

16

16

Magherafelt Court Office

2

25

27

Division total

33

206

239

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

5

38

43

Coleraine Court Office

18

132

150

Ballymena Court Office

18

116

134

Larne Court Office

5

30

35

Division total

46

316

362

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

3

61

64

Strabane Court Office

3

21

24

Enniskillen Court Office

8

22

30

Dungannon Court Office

9

42

51

Division total

23

146

169

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

7

40

47

Banbridge Court Office

1

1

2

Newry Court Office

27

126

153

Division total

35

167

202

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

24

140

164

Downpatrick Court Office

13

38

51

Bangor Court Office

13

53

66

Division total

50

231

281

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

14

51

65

Lisburn Court Office

16

63

79

Division total

30

114

144

 

Table 4.1 Number of civil applications received in the magistrates' court in Northern Ireland

 

Domestic Proceedings

Family Homes & Domestic Violence

Total

Northern Ireland

271

1648

1919

 

Table 4.2 Number of civil applications disposed in the magistrates' court by division & venue

 

Domestic Proceedings

Family Homes & Domestic Violence

Total

Belfast

Laganside Courts

32

382

414

Division total

32

382

414

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

18

151

169

Limavady Court Office

 

14

14

Magherafelt Court Office

2

22

24

Division total

20

187

207

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

1

35

36

Coleraine Court Office

23

127

150

Ballymena Court Office

13

108

121

Larne Court Office

2

24

26

Division total

39

294

333

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

3

54

57

Strabane Court Office

4

19

23

Enniskillen Court Office

4

25

29

Dungannon Court Office

5

44

49

Division total

16

142

158

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

3

34

37

Banbridge Court Office

2

3

5

Newry Court Office

11

125

136

Division total

16

162

178

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

8

103

111

Downpatrick Court Office

2

39

41

Bangor Court Office

10

46

56

Division total

20

188

208

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

6

38

44

Lisburn Court Office

9

58

67

Division total

15

96

111

 

Table 4.2 Number of civil applications disposed in the magistrates' court in Northern Ireland

 

Domestic Proceedings

Family Homes & Domestic Violence

Total

Northern Ireland

158

1451

1609

 

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

2.44

4.20

Total

2.44

4.20

Londonderry

Londonderry Court Office

2.15

5.44

Limavady Court Office

1.92

2.57

Magherafelt Court Office

1.89

2.50

Total

2.10

4.91

Antrim

Antrim Court Office

1.35

4.86

Coleraine Court Office

1.56

2.92

Ballymena Court Office

1.76

6.28

Larne Court Office

1.54

2.69

Total

1.61

4.33

Fermanagh and Tyrone

Omagh Court Office

1.25

1.81

Strabane Court Office

1.81

4.53

Enniskillen Court Office

1.71

5.72

Dungannon Court Office

2.21

2.72

Total

1.71

3.21

Armagh and South Down

Armagh Court Office

1.45

3.11

Banbridge Court Office

4.06

7.89

Newry Court Office

1.65

3.70

Total

1.68

3.70

Ards

Newtownards Court Office

1.55

6.42

Downpatrick Court Office

1.93

9.96

Bangor Court Office

1.40

5.86

Total

1.58

6.97

Craigavon

Craigavon Court Office

1.22

18.73

Lisburn Court Office

.85

16.94

Total

.99

17.65

 

Table 4.3: 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

1.86

5.45

 

Table 4.4 Outcome of applications under Family Homes & Domestic Violence Order in the magistrates' court in Northern Ireland

 

Granted

Dismissed or refused

Withdrawn

Vary discharge

Other

Total

Non molestation

854

245

258

52

7

1416

Occupation

11

3

7

2

 

23

Vary discharge non-mol occupation

1

2

1

8

 

12

Total

866

250

266

62

7

1451