· Everyday heroes from
all backgrounds wanted to deliver justice in local
communities across the country
· Over 2,000 magistrates
recruited in the last three years
· Part of Government's Plan
for Change to deliver swifter justice for victims and to protect
the public
Thousands of ordinary people from all walks of life are
being called on by the Government today (3 January) to volunteer
their time to delivering justice by becoming a magistrate.
Over 2,000 extra magistrates have been trained since
2022 and this new, ambitious recruitment drive
aims to boost the magistracy by the same number
again in just the next financial year.
Magistrates are representative of
the communities they serve. Latest figures show
that 57% of magistrates are female and 14% come from an ethnic
minority background, with London having the highest proportion of
magistrates from an ethnic minority background at 31%.
Magistrates play a vital role in delivering justice locally.
They are all volunteers and are expected to dedicate a minimum of
13 days a year to sitting on cases, meaning many magistrates can
fulfil this crucial role easily alongside full-time employment
and caring responsibilities.
Deputy Prime Minister, , said:
“Magistrates play a vital role in our court system – hearing
thousands of cases across every jurisdiction and
delivering justice.
“They are everyday heroes – and we need more people of
every age and background to volunteer not just to deliver justice
but to serve and represent their local communities.
“Volunteering to become a magistrate can make a real difference
to your life and the lives of others – that's why I'm calling on
the public to apply and play your part.”
New research shows that 45 percent of people in England and Wales
would consider volunteering in the next 12 months.
The Ministry of Justice has launched a new call for people across
England and Wales to volunteer and help deliver swifter justice
for victims.
All magistrates are given robust training and an experienced
mentor in their first year to develop their skills and legal
knowledge.
They are also supported with specialist legal advisors to allow
them to deal with a range of cases. The top qualities
that the Ministry of Justice and the Judiciary look for
in potential candidates are good communication skills,
a sense of fairness and the ability to see an argument from
different sides. Candidates are being sought to fill
positions across all jurisdictions including criminal
work, youth cases, as well as certain civil and family
proceedings.
