- More than 2,300 new magistrates appointed to help tackle the
court backlog
- Recruitment almost doubled to help deliver swifter justice
for victims
- Part of the Government's plan to invest and modernise court
system
A surge in magistrate recruitment will boost court
capacity and help drive down delays for victims, thanks to
an extra 2,312 new magistrates joining the
benches since April 2025.
Figures published today (Thursday 9 July) reveal that 1,657
magistrates were appointed in 2025/26, with 655 new recruits
added in the first quarter of 2026/27 the biggest increase in
magistrate recruitment under this Government.
The milestone comes as nearly 3,000 magistrates have
been appointed under this Government as part of its ambitious
drive to deliver a 21,000 strong magistracy by 2030,
ensuring courts have the capacity they need to deliver swifter
justice for victims and tackle delays.
As of March 2026, the latest appointments bring the total
number of magistrates to 15,259, helping restore numbers to
sustainable levels and strengthen the justice system for the
future.
Minister for Courts and Legal Services KC said:
Magistrates are the backbone of our justice system, giving their
time and experience to serve their communities and uphold the
rule of law.
These figures show we are rapidly increasing recruitment to
strengthen courts across the country, cut delays and
ensure victims get the justice they deserve faster.
Magistrates currently deal with over 90 per cent of criminal
cases and will play an even greater role under the Government's
court reforms, helping reduce delays, cutting
the crown court backlog and ensuring victims see
justice delivered more quickly.
The recruitment surge follows decisive Government action to
strengthen the magistracy backed by record recruitment funding,
including the creation of a national taskforce to halve
recruitment times and speed up appointments. At the same
time, a review of recruitment tools and processes is being
undertaken to help improve recruitment and ensure positions
remain accessible and the magistracy continues to reflect modern
Britain.
The latest figures show that 57 per cent of
magistrates are female and 14 per cent come from an
ethnic minority background, with London having the highest
proportion of magistrates from an ethnic minority background
at 31 per cent.
All magistrates receive robust training and the support of an
experienced mentor during their first year to help develop their
skills and legal knowledge. They also work alongside specialist
legal advisers, enabling them to deal confidently with a wide
range of cases.
ENDS.
