Magistrates recruitment drive draws young and diverse applicants

YOUNG people and ethnic minorities are applying to be magistrates in record numbers after the Government began a recruitment campaign to shed their image as elderly, white and retired.

More than 33,500 people have expressed an interest to become magistrates, who from today will have new powers to jail criminals for up to a year, double the previous length of sentence that they could hand out.

Of these, 24 per cent are under 40, more than treble the current proportion. A quarter described themselves as black, Asian or an ethnic minority, double the current 13 per cent.

The £1 million recruitment campaign was brought out by the Ministry of Justice (MOJ) in January.

Latest MOJ data show only 1 per cent of magistrates are currently younger than 30 with 49 per cent over 60. More than half (56 per cent) are women, but just 13 per cent are ethnic minorities.

More than 4,000 more justices of the peace are also being sought over the next three years in a drive to tackle the vast backlog in criminal cases.

The powers to sentence criminals for up to a year will mean hundreds more cases will be heard that would otherwise go to Crown Court, freeing up about 1,700 days-worth of time in the higher courts. The aim is to reduce the Crown Court backlog of 58,000 cases.

Dominic Raab, the Justice Secretary, said: “We are doing everything in our power to bring down the court backlog, and doubling the sentencing powers of magistrates will create more capacity in the Crown Court to hear the most serious cases.”

Applicants chosen by the MOJ and local boards will face two interviews, and a problem-solving task where they pass judgement on a mock case.

Following three days of training, new magistrates are mentored for a year, including six initial sittings with an experienced justice of the peace.

MOJ officials hope the near 34,000 registrations of interest will become full applications, in what will be the biggest recruitment of magistrates in a century.

It follows a sharp decline in the number of magistrates, from around 30,000 in 2009 to 12,300 now. The MOJ aims to employ 17,000 in three years.

To maintain numbers, the retirement age for magistrates is rising from 70 to 75, bringing it in line with the judiciary.

Bev Higgs, chairman of the Magistrates Association, said: “I have sat with teachers, midwives, IT specialists, helicopter pilots, housewives and widowers. There is no over arching stereotype. It is open to everyone.

“Most people in the community don’t come into contact with courts. They think it is all Rumpole of the Bailey but when they get here, they realise it is run by the community.”