Government to recruit thousands of volunteer magistrates to tackle court backlog

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A big recruitment drive has been launched throughout England and Wales, aiming to enlist hundreds of recent volunteer magistrates to speed up justice for victims.

The brand new 12 months initiative follows authorities reforms aimed toward tackling the persistent crown court docket backlog.

The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) famous over 2,000 magistrates skilled since 2022, with this newest push focusing on one other 2,000 volunteers inside the subsequent monetary 12 months.

Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy underscored their significance, stating: “Magistrates play an important function in our court docket system – listening to hundreds of instances throughout each jurisdiction and delivering justice.”

“They’re on a regular basis heroes – and we want extra individuals of all ages and background to volunteer not simply to ship justice however to serve and characterize their native communities.

“Volunteering to grow to be a Justice of the Peace could make an actual distinction to your life and the lives of others – that’s why I’m calling on the general public to use and play your half.”

In December Mr Lammy introduced proposals to overtake the courts system, together with to extend magistrates’ sentencing powers as much as 18 months’ imprisonment, up from 12 months at present, so they may be capable of take care of extra critical instances.

The powers may be prolonged to 24 months if needed.

Different plans embrace scrapping jury trials for some instances and creating new swift courts inside crown courts for a lone choose to listen to instances as an alternative.

The Magistrates’ Affiliation stated the transfer was a “huge vote of confidence” in magistrates however extra sources are wanted for the courts, together with sufficient skilled, well-paid authorized advisers, and repairing crumbling court docket buildings.

All magistrates are anticipated to volunteer at the least 13 days a 12 months to listen to instances.

In response to the MoJ, newest figures present 57% of magistrates are feminine and 14% come from an ethnic minority background, apart from London the place it’s the highest proportion of 31%.

Judiciary chiefs are on the lookout for candidates with good communication expertise, a way of equity and the power to see an argument from totally different sides.

Magistrates are wished throughout felony, youth, and civil and household proceedings, and have specialist authorized advisers to help them to take care of a spread of instances.

Reacting to the transfer, shadow justice minister Kieran Mullan stated: “David Lammy’s file as Justice Secretary is calamitous. Courtroom backlogs have soared underneath his watch.

“Now he’s pushing plans to scrap jury trials, threatening one of many cornerstones of our authorized system. That is reckless and dangers undermining public confidence.

“Recruiting hundreds of recent magistrates is welcome – but it surely can not paper over the failings of a Justice Secretary and Labour Authorities that has persistently didn’t ship significant reform.”