- Everyday heroes urged to become magistrates and serve their
communities
- £4 million campaign drive to recruit thousands more local
justice champions
- Part of Government's plan to deliver a faster and fairer
justice system
Victims will see faster and fairer justice as the Government
launches a major drive to recruit thousands more magistrates and
cut court delays.
The largest ever magistrate recruitment drive has been launched
today (Thursday 24 September) to help mobilise the next
generation of local justice champions to step forward and serve
their communities.
The £4 million recruitment drive 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 in 2028
/ 29, ensuring courts have the capacity they need to deliver
swifter justice for victims and tackle delays.
Magistrates hear around 95 per cent of all criminal cases and
play a fundamental role to keep cases moving through the courts.
Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice,
said:
"Magistrates embody the very best of public service. They give
their time, experience and judgement to make vital decisions that
help ensure justice is delivered fairly in communities across the
country.
I'm calling on the public to play their part - we need more
people from all walks of life to step forward and become their
local magistrate.
Inheriting a magistracy that had fallen to just 12,500 in 2022,
this Government has taken decisive action to strengthen the bench
and restore capacity across the justice system. Including
encouraging people from all backgrounds to play a direct role in
delivering justice in their communities.
Catherine Feast, Chief Executive of the Magistrates'
Association said:
A good magistrate is a team player, a problem-solver, a good
listener, and shows good judgement and empathy in court. These
are qualities that many people have, and we'd encourage anyone
who thinks they have what it takes to do this demanding but
rewarding role, to take the next step and apply to become a
magistrate.
The campaign "You've Got the Makings of a Magistrate" aims to
show that people may already have the qualities needed to take on
the role - including good judgement, empathy and decision-making
skills.
For the first time recruitment adverts for magistrates will
appear on national television, as well as social media channels
reaching millions of people.
New polling released today suggests that around 50 per cent of
the UK population believe they have the skills and qualities
needed to become a magistrate.
The magistracy is built to represent the communities it serves,
with 57% of magistrates being women and 14% from ethnic minority
backgrounds.
The role requires volunteers to sit for a minimum of 13 days a
year, making the role compatible with work, family and caring
commitments.
This recruitment drive comes as a new national taskforce works
with local recruitment committees across England and Wales to
streamline the process, cutting the time taken to recruit
magistrates by more than half.
This work forms part of the Government's wider plan to rebuild
the criminal justice system.
