THE highest ranking police officer in West Essex has said the potential closure of both his division's magistrates courts will impact on the force's efficiency.

Chief Superintendent Simon Williams, the Western Divisional Commander, has said the possible closure of both Epping and Harlow Magistrates Courts will affect policing in the area as his officers spend time travelling to Chelmsford to sign off warrants and powers.

He said: “There'll be an impact on crime. There may be an impact on officers required to attend cases.

“There's going to be an impact of course because officers who require the services of the court will have to travel further.

“If they're in a court case for 11.30 at the moment before they go in they're available. If they're travelling they're not going to be available. They would be disrupted from doing their duty in the area for some time.”

Both magistrates courts are on a Government hit-list of money-saving closures and if they are indeed scrapped it will leave Mr Williams' division, which includes Epping Forest, Harlow, and Brentwood, without a single magistrates court.

Officers based at divisional headquarters in Harlow currently need only walk next door if they have to attend magistrates court.

But under the Government's closure proposals, anyone needing to attend court in west Essex will have to travel to an expanded magistrates court in Chelmsford.

Mr Williams said: “As a commanding officer clearly I'm benefiting from having a court in my back yard. It's useful if you need to secure warrants or if there are powers which you need from a magistrate.

“There are going to be operational impacts from this decision.”

Mr Williams added he had filed his concerns within a report he had written for the Chief Constable of Essex.

His concerns have also been backed by Harlow MP Robert Halfon who has raised them with the Ministry of Justice.