Lavender Hill Magistrates Court

WHAT IS THE ADDRESS FOR LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

Lavender Hill Magistrates Court
176a Lavender Hill
Battersea
SW11 1JU

WHAT ARE LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT’S OPENING HOURS?

The court building is open 9am to 4.30pm Monday to Friday (apart from bank holidays).

However, for general information or enquiries, the reception counter is only open from 9.15am to 11am, and then from 1.30pm to 2.30pm. If you need to hand in documents related to your case or have other questions related to your case, you are able to do this when the court counter is open.

HOW CAN I CONTACT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT BY EMAIL?

General enquiries: southlondonmc@justice.gov.uk

Payment and Fine enquiries: lccccollectionunit@hmcts.gsi.gov.uk

WHAT IS THE PHONE NUMBER FOR LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

General enquiries: 0300 303 0645 (or 03308 084 407 for Crime Customer Service centre)

Fine enquiries: 0300 123 9252, but to make a Payment call: 0300 790 9901

Witness service: 0300 332 1388

IS LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT EASY TO GET TO BY PUBLIC TRANSPORT?

The following transport lines have routes that pass near Lavender Hill Magistrates' Court: Bus numbers 156, 170, 345, 77 and 87.  The nearest bus stops are Lavender Hill Police Station (E) - which is a 1 minute walk away, and Falcon Lane which is 4 minutes walk.  For trains, look for Overground, South Western Railway and Southern railways with the nearest stations being Battersea Park (3 minute walk), Queenstown Road (4 minute walk) and Clapham Junction which is a bit further this being a 16 minutes walk away.  Underground: The NORTHERN line stops near Lavender Hill Magistrates Court, and the nearest tube station is Clapham South.

CAN I PARK AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

There isn’t any parking available at the court itself. However, just a short walk away parking is available at Asda Clapham - but only 2 hours free, so make sure not to overstay your free stay or there will be a fine.  Paid parking available a 7 minute walk away at Junction Approach Car Park (1SA, Junction Approach, London SW11 1RU).

DOES LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT OFFER DISABLED ACCESS?

If you are looking for disabled access in order to attend Lavender Hill Magistrates Court, there is a Disability Contact Officer that can be contacted on 020 7805 1462 for assistance. You are welcome to take an Assistance Dog to the court, and there are hearing enhancement facilities which should be arranged by phoning or emailing the court beforehand.  Similarly, if hard of hearing, then contact the court beforehand to arrange a hearing enhancement facility called a Hearing Loop.

WHICH OFFENCES WHICH ARE HANDLED AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

Lavender Hill Magistrates Court handles criminal matters and single justice procedures.  It mainly deals with non imprisonable motoring matters such as speeding, driving without due care and attention, driving with no insurance, and driving while using a mobile phone. In addition, Lavender Hill Magistrates court also deals with more serious motoring offences such as drink driving, failing to stop after an accident, and dangerous driving which could lead to imprisonment.

WHAT DO I NEED TO BRING TO LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

When you attend your hearing at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court, it is recommended that you take the documents related to your case with you, especially the hearing letter which has the case number on it.  Your case number will help the court ushers to guide you to your courtroom where your hearing will take place.  Remember the originals of any letters which are important to your case such as character references.  It is unlikely that you will be able to buy refreshments at the court, although there may be a vending machine.  To be sure, you might want to take some food and something to drink with you (alcohol is not allowed).  You may have a long wait, so it makes sense to be prepared.

WHAT SHOULD I WEAR TO MY COURT HEARING AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

Naturally, you will want to make the best possible impression on the Magistrates.  So, although it is not a fixed rule to wear a suit, it is advisable to avoid sports wear and dress more formally (perhaps as if you were attending a job interview).

WHAT TIME SHOULD I ARRIVE AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

If you are being represented by a solicitor at court, then he will ask you to attend a considerable time before your listed hearing time in order to have a pre-hearing consultation.  Otherwise, you should arrive at least half an hour before the time of your hearing.  The hearing time will be indicated on the charge sheet, postal requisition or summons.

HOW LONG WILL I BE WAITING AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

Hearings at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court are often listed to start at the same time, so you may have a long wait until your own hearing begins.  If you have arrived early, however, you may be given an earlier slot which is another good reason to arrive punctually.  If the court is particularly busy, however, you may still have a long wait.  It is strongly advisable to make sure that you have booked the day off from work and that you have organised someone to look after your children for the whole day too.

WHAT HAPPENS WHEN I ARRIVE AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

You will have to go through security.  You will have to empty everything from your pockets into a plastic tray.  Also, your bags will be searched.  After this, you will pass through a security arch similar to that at an airport.  Remember to let staff know if you have a pacemaker.  After staff have cleared you through the hand-held scanner, you are allowed to pass through into the main court area.  You will see the reception desk, so report there and find out where your hearing will be.  When you get to the courtroom where your case will be heard you should tell the court usher that you are there and ready for your hearing.

WHO ARE THE OFFICIALS IN THE COURTROOM AT MY HEARING AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

Usually at Lavender Hill Magistrates Court there will be three magistrates in the court, but sometimes there may only be two.  Also, sometimes there is a single District Judge instead of Magistrates.  Also there will be a prosecutor, and the court legal advisor.  You will also have your solicitor there, if you have engaged one for your matter.  The usher organises the court and can tell you the procedure to follow.

WHAT WILL HAPPEN  DURING MY HEARING AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

If you plead guilty to an offence, then you will be sentenced.  However, there are different procedures if you are pleading not guilty and going to trial.  We have described a typical format of procedures at a hearing for a speeding offence.  You can click here for more detail: What happens in a Magistrates Court hearing for a speeding allegation?

CAN I BRING SOMEONE WITH ME TO MY HEARING AT LAVENDER HILL MAGISTRATES COURT?

Yes, you can bring a few family members or friends to Lavender Hill Magistrates Court with you.  Bear in mind that if you bring many supporters then the Magistrates would probably object.  There is no childcare at the court, so you must not bring unsupervised children.  Witnesses in support of your case during a trial must wait outside the courtroom until they are called in by the usher.  There may be members of the public attending the hearing.  Mobiles should be turned off.

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

There are many advantages to having representation by a solicitor whilst at court.  A good solicitor is very skilled at presenting your matter before the court in the way most likely to be successful, and will guide you through complex legal points.

Read our article here:  Do I Need A Solicitor At My Court Hearing For A Motoring Offence?

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 rates. 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 75% success rate for 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.