PEOPLE accused of crimes could soon have their cases heard at any magistrates' court in Lancashire in a bid to "deliver justice more efficiently and effectively."

The Lancashire Magistrates' Court Service has produced a consultation paper on its review of petty sessions areas ---covering crimes such as bail breaches, community sentence breaches or fine defaulters -- in the county, which it hopes will lead to changes in working procedures.

It also means if a court is full, people could be sent to courts outside their areas to be dealt with.

At present, the Magistrates' Courts Service in Lancashire is divided into 10 petty sessions areas: Blackburn, Darwen and Ribble Valley; Blackpool and Fylde; Burnley, Pendle and Rossendale; Chorley, Hyndburn, Lancaster, Ormskirk, Preston, South Ribble and Wyre.

Many cases can only be heard in the area where the offence occurred or the matter originated, such as council tax and rates recovery, application for civic orders, rights of entry warrants, and licensing, betting and gaming applications.

A report to be discussed at Ribble Valley Borough Council's Parish Council's Liaison Committee on Thursday, urges members to back the changes.

The report says: "The Magistrates' Court Committee considers that if the present petty sessions boundaries were removed, this would lead to justice being delivered more efficiently and effectively.

"The committee's consultation paper proposes that the present ten petty sessions areas be replaced by a single area, to be known as Lancashire."

Justification for the changes lies with several factors. The current core system for court administration is based on an old system and its replacement is over due, says the report.

The new system would be running in Lancashire in late 2002, providing "greater flexibility" with court scheduling and listings can be controlled centrally on a daily basis.

But the most significant problem experienced is custody accommodation, which in many buildings is inadequate, says the report.

It states: "Better use of court buildings can be achieved by taking a more strategic approach to the allocation of cases. There are insufficient resources available to continue with the present arrangements of dealing with all types of cases arising within a petty sessions area in the one courthouse."

Youth and family cases could also be re-allocated under the proposals.

The council's director of legal services Paul Timson said the most serious concern is the possible loss of bench identity and, consequently, local knowledge, which would be of particular concern in the Ribble Valley, which is different in character from some of its East Lancashire neighbours.

But Lancashire Magistrates' Courts Services says the notion of 'local' cannot mean today what it meant 40 years ago.

"There is much greater mobility of the population and if public services are to continue to deliver a reasonable level of quality, it needs to be understood that some compromise has to be achieved in some areas of work.

"Magistrates all have knowledge about much wider areas than those covered by the court they sit

"The Magistrates' Courts Committee does not wish to close any more courts, but it does need to use its resources in the most efficient way achievable."

And it says it will ensure that magistrates continue to sit at their current 'home court'.

Objections to the proposals have been asked to be submitted to the Lancashire Magistrates' Court Committee before Friday October 5.