1.3 A preliminary review by the Service of the throughput of the business from January to December 2002 (Figure 3) has indicated increased availability and efficiency together with higher business levels and an increase of some six per cent in the number of court sittings, compared with the corresponding period a year earlier. The additional sittings are concentrated in the Crown Courts, where cases are often high profile and involve lengthy trials. Laganside Courts provides the opportunity to call larger panels and swear juries all in one secure suite, which in turn has a positive effect on business performance. Efficiency gains in each of the other courts have also been noted by the Service. In the magistrates' courts, anticipated efficiency savings have resulted from the partial amalgamation of business within Newtownabbey and Belfast Petty Sessions Districts, which is evidenced by the constant number of sittings within fewer days. In the County Court, including Family Care business, the judiciary make use of the benefits of mixing various types of business within the courthouse. It is in this context that the Service considers that the new complex is delivering major operational benefits.