Staff cuts at the Courts Service could reach at least 1,160, rather than the 1,000 suggested in an internal letter from Department of Constitutional Affairs (DCA) permanent secretary Alex Allan two weeks ago, it has emerged.

The DCA has revealed that the total headcount at the Courts Service is 23,966, compared to the 'full-time equivalent' (FTE) staff number it gave before of 20,669. Because the 1,000 posts to go are also FTE, on a pro rata basis the number of individuals who may be laid off could be proportionately higher.


The DCA also told the Gazette that a quarter of the department's staff work part-time, which means the stated goal of 1,300 FTE posts to go across all its various functions could easily top 1,600 in terms of individuals affected.


A spokesman for the DCA said of the cuts: 'Keeping control of our finances is a permanent challenge... [They] need to be refocused to provide the best possible services to our customers, as well as value for money to the taxpayer.'