The closure of magistrates' courts is putting a strain on police budgets and threatens to undermine rural access to the justice system, says the Rural Services Network.

RSN chairman Councillor Cecilia Motley said: "Access to justice is a fundamental right – no matter where somebody lives."

She added: "We accept that savings have to be made – but it is wrong that rural communities should be unfairly impacted."

See also: Do rural communities face a justice desert?

In Herefordshire, for example, all arrested individuals requiring a bail decision have to been sent on a daily basis out of the county to Kidderminster in neighbouring Worcestershire.

This comes at an additional cost to police in terms of both transport costs and lost time by police officers, says the RSN.

Councillor Motley said: "Because of these closures, many rural court users face longer journey times which threatens to undermine their ability to access the justice system."

She continued: "Public transport links are already very poor or non-existent in many rural areas and it is important to remember that not everyone owns a car.

"It is wrong that rural communities should bear the brunt of court closures – the impact of which will be felt particularly by less well-off members of society."

Similar warnings have been made by other rural groups.

The National Rural Crime Network, which represents nearly 30 Police and Crime Commissioners, has urged the government to rethink any closure plans.

It said too much emphasis was being placed on how public transport and technology would be able to reduce the impact of closures.

A consultation setting out the government's proposed future strategy for HM Courts & Tribunals Service closed last month.

NRCN chairman Julia Mulligan said the consultation document failed to recognise many of the unique challenges of rural communities.

Government ministers are now considering their response to the consultation. The consultation documents can be seen here.