Old men on the bench

SIR – As a former magistrate who retired at 70 I fully agree with this compulsory retirement age. Derrick Smith (Letters, August 5) suggests extending the retirement date into one’s 80s, but that is not the solution. We need to encourage more young people to take up the role.

Time in service does not equate to competency. There are many drivers in their 80s and 90s with 40 or 50 years’ experience, but that does not make them competent.

Indeed we old people are too out of touch with the world. The justice system need young people, not old, staid individuals with opinions fixed several decades ago. Peter Preston

Ivybridge, Devon

SIR – I totally agree with Mr Smith. I was retired from the bench three years ago aged 70, having served in magistrates’ courts in Sutton and Croydon for 30 years.

It seems illogical that, while we are perfectly capable of deciding guilt or innocence sitting on a jury until the age of 75 (the aged having been raised from 70 last December), we are incapable of sitting on the bench in a magistrates’ court after 70, despite the continuous training undergone and the experience gained.

Assuming a JP is willing to continue and still has the faculties needed to make sound judgments, this anomaly needs to be corrected immediately.

As Mr Smith said, it will cost nothing to do so and may well add value to the judicial process.

Graham J Reed JP

Purley, Surrey