Justice Secretary Kenneth Clarke officially opened a new state of the art Magistrates? Court in London today.

Westminster Magistrates' Court is a 10-courtroom complex built as part of a wider strategy to improve the capacity and facilities of magistrates' courts in London.  

Kenneth Clarke said: "The future of our justice system is in modern, more efficient courts that are able to deliver justice swiftly ? bringing offenders face-to-face with the consequences of their behaviour as quickly as possible.

"Westminster Magistrates? Court embodies this approach and is equipped with the more modern facilities that the public would expect to see. I?m delighted to see it up and running."

As well as dealing with criminal business cases, the court hears extradition cases from across England and Wales and other areas of international work.

Facilities at the court complex include courtrooms with a secure dock, a secure custody suite and holding areas and a dedicated press room.

The complex also has an 'excellent' BREEAM (Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method) rating, as it uses water from the London Aquifer for heating and cooling.