With an historically high number of police on the beat, and an estimated additional 40,000 charges expected to be laid by police across the state this year, it is no wonder local lists are growing.

By contrast, the number of magistrates sitting in NSW has fallen by eight, placing increased pressure on the local court system. 

On Monday, a Director of Public Prosecutions day, magistrate Michael Allen had 89 matters before him in the Bathurst Local Court. Next Monday, a non-DPP day, already has 73 matters listed.

On Tuesday, Bathurst’s Local Court’s only hearing day, Mr Allen already had five custody matters before him, including a hearing set down for two hours, when a family law matter, transferred from Mudgee, was raised by solicitor Matthew Oakley.

Mr Allen this week questioned why the matter had been transferred from Mudgee Court, which he said has more hearing days a year than Bathurst.

He expressed frustration, saying he was already dealing with a list which had five custody matters, a two-hour hearing, plus other matters.

“Last week Mudgee matters were finished by 11.30am on Tuesday, so why would this matter be put onto this list?” he asked.

“On Monday this court did not finish sitting until 5.50pm,” he said, adding it was a direct consequence of eight fewer magistrates sitting in NSW.

“This year there are more police on the beat and there will be 40,000 additional charges through the court.”

He said courts sitting well beyond their usual hours of operation affected many people.

“The court officers and court monitors were here until 5.50pm. The police prosecutor also had to be here until 5.50pm – none of them are able to leave.”