Birmingham Magistrates Court

WHAT IS THE ADDRESS FOR BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

Victoria Law Courts
Corporation Street
Birmingham
B4 6QA

WHAT TIME IS BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT OPEN?

The court building is open 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday (apart from bank holidays).

If you wish to obtain information concerning your case, or give in a relevant document, then you can do this at the court counter.  The court counter is open 10am to 2pm Monday to Friday (excluding bank holidays)

WHAT IS THE EMAIL ADDRESS FOR BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

General enquiries:- wm-customerservicesbirmingham@justice.gov.uk

Fine enquiries: -  wmfines@justice.gov.uk

WHAT IS THE PHONE NUMBER FOR BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

General enquiries: 0121 212 6600

Fine enquiries: 0121 212 7820

Witness service: 0300 332 1000

CAN I TRAVEL TO BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT?

You can travel by bus to a bus stop situated just outside the court.  The buses that  serve these stops are numbers XF1,22, 51, 907, 907A, 934, 935, 936, 937, 937A, and 997.

There are a few train stations close by in Birmingham city centre which include Birmingham New Street, Birmingham Moor Street and Birmingham Snow Hill.

CAN I PARK AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

There isn’t any parking available at the court itself.  However, just a short walk away parking is available at Dalton Street, B4 7LX.

IS BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT DISABILITY FRIENDLY?

If you are disabled and you have a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court you should ring 0121 212 7820 for assistance.

On the Newton Street side of the court building there is disabled access.

Guide dogs are admitted at Birmingham Magistrates Court

The court has a mechanism to help people who are hard of hearing called a “hearing loop”.  Please email, or ring the court, before your hearing date to arrange it’s use.

WHAT TYPE OF OFFENCES ARE DEALT WITH AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

This court deals with a broad range of offences.  It hears cases involving minor offences, for which you can’t be sent to prison, and which are often motoring matters.  Examples of these would be speeding, driving without due care and attention, driving with no insurance, and driving while using a mobile phone.  However the court also deals with more serious offences which are imprisonable such as drink driving, failing to stop after an accident, and dangerous driving.

WHAT SHOULD I BRING TO BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

If you have a hearing at Birmingham Magistrates Court you should bring with you:

1. The letter that notified you of your hearing.  This will have useful information such as your case number.
2. If you are pleading guilty to an offence you may want to bring character references with you which the Magistrates may take into account when they sentence you.
3. If you are attending a trial you may wish to bring with you copies of the prosecution witness statements and a pen and paper so that you can make notes
4. You may have a long wait at the court and therefore you may want to bring some food and drink, although alcohol is not allowed.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO MY COURT HEARING AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

There is no fixed rule as to what you should wear, although the Magistrates normally appreciate it if you look smart.  It is best to dress as if you are going for a job interview.

WHAT TIME SHOULD I ARRIVE AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

You should arrive at least 30 minutes before the time of your hearing as specified in your summons, charge sheet or postal requisition.  If you are represented by a solicitor they will normally ask that you attend the court much earlier to have a pre hearing consultation in one of the interview rooms.

HOW LONG WILL I HAVE TO WAIT AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

Many people will have been told that their hearing also is listed to start at the same time as yours and therefore you may have a long wait.  The court often hears cases according to what time the defendant arrived at court, with the early arrivals being given priority, however this isn’t always the case.  To play safe, make sure that you have no commitments for the rest of the day.  If you work, notify your employer that you may not be coming in that day.  If you have children, make sure you organise child care well in advance.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

As soon as you arrive at the court you will have to go through airport like security.  This will involve you emptying your pockets and placing the contents in a plastic tray and passing your bags over to be searched.  You will then have to go through a security arch.  You will need to let the security staff know if you have a pace maker.  Then you will scanned with a hand held scanner.  You can then go through to the court hall.  Here you can check in at the reception desk and you will be informed which courtroom your case will be heard at.  You should then notify the usher in that courtroom of your arrival.

WHO WILL BE IN THE COURTROOM AT MY HEARING AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

As well as you, there will be your solicitor if you have one, a prosecutor, the Magistrates and their legal advisor.  The legal advisor will advise the Magistrates on points of law. There are normally 3 magistrates but occasionally there may just be 2.  Sometimes the Magistrates are replaced by a single District Judge.  There will also normally be an usher who helps with the organisation of the court.

WHAT WILL BE THE PROCEDURE THAT IS FOLLOWED DURING MY HEARING AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

The procedure will vary depending on whether you are pleading guilty to the offence and just being sentenced, or you have pleaded not guilty and are going through a trial.  The majority of offences dealt with at Birmingham Magistrates Court are for motoring.  The following link gives detailed information as to the procedure followed at a hearing when you are accused of a speeding offence, however the format will be similar to that followed for other types of offences: What happens in a Magistrates Court hearing for a speeding allegation?

AM I ALLOWED TO BRING ANYONE WITH ME TO BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

Because the public are allowed to attend criminal hearings you can bring family, or friends, for moral support.   However, if you try to take too many people into the hearing itself the Magistrates will probably object.  If that is the case you should ask them to wait outside.  If anyone does come into the courtroom with you remind them to turn off their mobile phones. 

Bear in mind that young children cannot be looked after by court staff while you are in your hearing.  It is therefore best to arrange childcare before your hearing date.

If are pleading guilty you can ask someone, for example your employer, to come to the court and give a verbal character reference.  However, normally character references are written and the letter is simply passed up to the magistrates to read during the hearing.

If you have a trial make sure that all your witnesses in support of your case attend the court on time.  Please remind them that if they are present in the courtroom when the trial starts they will be barred from giving evidence.  Instead, they should take a seat just outside the courtroom and wait to be called in by the usher.  They will have to decide when they give evidence whether they want to swear on a religious text (and if so which one), or whether they wish to simply affirm.  They should inform the usher of this decision.

SHOULD I HAVE A SOLICITOR TO REPRESENT ME AT MY HEARING AT BIRMINGHAM MAGISTRATES COURT?

Please read the following article: Do I need A Solicitor At My Court Hearing For A Motoring Offence? which points out the importance of having a solicitor at court.

Magistrates Court hearings often involve complex points of law, and it is therefore advisable to have a solicitor to represent you to help explain legal issues and obtain the best result.  If you are unrepresented you will be expected to talk at length to the magistrates but if you have a solicitor they will be able to act as your spokesperson and put your case forward in the best possible light. 

If the offence is serious and could result in you being sent to prison then you may be eligible for legal aid provided your earrings are not too high.  However, the majority of the offences that are dealt with at Birmingham Magistrates Court are motoring matters that do not carry a prison sentence.  If you face such an offence then you will have to pay for your solicitor privately.  Speeding Law Solicitors, are motoring law experts, and provide excellent representation on a very reasonable fixed fee basis so that you know exactly where you stand financially from the outset of your case.  They also have an excellent success rate.  Philip Hatvany, their founding solicitor, has over an 85% success rate for saving people’s driving licence by successfully arguing Exceptional Hardship when they have acquired 12 penalty points or more.  He also has over an 80% success rate at winning trials.  These success rates are not just taken from the last few cases but are based on his average hearing results going back to 2011.  Call Philip now on Freephone 0800 9098110 for a free initial consultation.