The Government intends working on plans prepared by the previous Administration to relocate the Gozo law courts away from the inaccessible and crammed building in the heart of the Citadel.

Justice Parliamentary Secretary Owen Bonnici said the plans, which propose constructing new law courts in another part of Victoria, were being reviewed to see if anything had to be changed before proceeding.

During a visit to the Gozo court, Dr Bonnici said there were no timelines but the move was needed “sooner rather than later”. The court, which was previously the Governor’s Palace, consists of three small courtrooms and several other small rooms housing piles of documents and files.

Seven court registrars are crammed, along with their files, desks and mounds of documents, in a small room with an area of barely 20 square metres.

They work back to back with no room to manoeuvre.

The lack of space was a big problem for the Gozo courts, creating administrative and logistical difficulties, Dr Bonnici said. This was why a new building that met European standards was required.

Three magistrates and a judge serve at the Gozo court, working alternate days due to space constraints. The Chief Justice also holds monthly sittings, presiding over the court of criminal appeals.

The court has 30 employees.

Dr Bonnici said the Judicial Reform Committee was due to submit its second and final report by the end of July, with one section dedicated specifically to the Gozo court and the changes required.

The law courts in Gozo are in dire need of upgrading.

Apart from the 30 steps to get to the building itself, the courtrooms are on the first and second floors.