Burnley Magistrates’ Court Listings

Burnley Magistrates' Court – Daily Hearing Schedules and Case Information

Burnley Magistrates' Court is located at The Courthouse, Parker Lane, Burnley BB11 2BT, in the heart of East Lancashire. This court serves the Borough of Burnley and surrounding communities including Padiham, Brierfield, Nelson, and Colne. It sits within the Lancashire magistrates' court cluster and handles a wide range of criminal and procedural matters for the local area. Hearings typically run across multiple courtrooms, with morning sessions starting at 10:00 and afternoon sessions from 14:00, concluding by approximately 16:30 unless directed otherwise by the presiding magistrate or district judge.

Types of Cases Heard at Burnley Magistrates' Court

Burnley Magistrates' Court deals primarily with summary criminal offences, which include common assault, criminal damage, drink driving, motoring offences, theft, public order breaches, and drug possession. The court also processes Single Justice Procedure (SJP) cases, which cover less serious matters such as TV licence evasion, minor road traffic offences, and council tax non-payment — these are dealt with on paper by a single magistrate without requiring the defendant to attend. More serious indictable offences such as grievous bodily harm, large-scale drug supply, or robbery receive preliminary hearings at Burnley Magistrates' Court before being committed to Burnley Crown Court at the Law Courts on Hammerton Street for trial or sentencing. Bail applications, warrant hearings, and breach of community order proceedings are also regularly listed here.

Court Opening Hours, Contact Details and Facilities

The court is open Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and telephone enquiries are answered during the same hours. For general magistrates' court enquiries, contact the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre on 0330 808 4407 (Monday to Friday, 8:30am to 5:00pm; Saturday 8:00am to 2:00pm). If your matter relates to a Single Justice Procedure case, call the SJS Centre on 0300 303 0656. Written correspondence should be posted to The Courthouse, Northgate, Blackburn, BB2 1AA, which is the administrative postal address for the Lancashire magistrates' courts. Email enquiries can be directed to [email protected] for cases with a 10-digit reference number, or [email protected] for general magistrates' court queries.

The building has no on-site car parking, but off-street parking is available on Parker Lane and at nearby pay-and-display car parks on Curzon Street and Centenary Way. Facilities inside include accessible toilets, a chair lift for disabled access, baby changing rooms, vending machines on the first floor, three interview rooms, and hearing loop equipment available by prior arrangement. The court supports the Hidden Disabilities Sunflower Scheme, with lanyards provided on request. Video conferencing and prison-to-court video link facilities are available when booked in advance through [email protected].

Getting to Burnley Magistrates' Court by Public Transport

Burnley Manchester Road railway station is the closest station, approximately a 10-minute walk south-west of the court via Parker Lane and Manchester Road. Burnley Central station is roughly 15 minutes on foot via Hammerton Street. Both stations are served by regular Northern Trains services on the East Lancashire and Burnley–Manchester routes. By bus, several services stop near the courthouse — routes 2, M1, M2, M5, X43, and 152 all pass through the town centre, with the Red Lion Street stop around two minutes' walk from the court entrance. The X43 express service connects Burnley directly with Burnley Bus Station, Accrington, Blackburn, and Preston, making it a practical option for those also attending hearings at Blackburn Magistrates' Court.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do I find out if my case is listed at Burnley Magistrates' Court today?

Daily court listings for Burnley Magistrates' Court are published each afternoon for the following day's hearings. You can check the listings on this page for up-to-date schedules including courtroom numbers, hearing times, and case references. Alternatively, contact the Courts and Tribunals Service Centre on 0330 808 4407 if your case has not appeared by 5:00pm the day before.

Can members of the public attend hearings at Burnley Magistrates' Court?

Yes. Magistrates' court hearings in England and Wales are generally open to the public and accredited press, unless the court imposes specific reporting restrictions. Youth court proceedings and certain family-related matters are exceptions where public access is restricted. Visitors should expect to pass through security screening on arrival.

What is the difference between Burnley Magistrates' Court and Burnley Crown Court?

Burnley Magistrates' Court handles less serious criminal offences and preliminary hearings. Cases involving more serious charges — such as murder, serious sexual offences, large-scale fraud, or Class A drug supply — are tried at Burnley Crown Court on Hammerton Street before a judge and jury. The magistrates' court may also send defendants to the Crown Court for sentencing where its own sentencing powers are insufficient.