North West residents from all walks of life are being urged to consider becoming magistrates, as part of a £1 million national recruitment drive to increase the number and diversity of those fulfilling the magistrate role.

With support from magistrates in the North West, a new marketing campaign launched by the Ministry of Justice seeks to boost the numbers of magistrates by 4,000 across the country, with recruits expected to help tackle the backlog of cases caused by the pandemic. It represents the largest recruitment effort in the 650-year history of the magistracy and could increase the workforce by up to a third in the coming years.

In the North West, there is a particular need for magistrates to apply to volunteer in the family court. As a family court magistrate, you make a tangible difference to the local community, improving the life of local children and a family’s future. You could be making decisions on childcare arrangements for separated parents who cannot agree, enforcing child maintenance orders and helping prevent domestic abuse. Although you’ll be dealing with emotional situations, you’ll have the support and training you need to handle them effectively.

The Ministry of Justice is keen to tackle misconceptions about magistrates and increase interest in the role, in the North West and beyond. Research shows 28% of people in the North West state they are interested in becoming a magistrate but this jumps to 43% when they learn more about what is involved.

There are major knowledge gaps when it comes to the role of a magistrate. Research shows that many in the region do not realise it’s a part-time role that can fit round other commitments, with 30% thinking it is full time. 37% are unsure if they are eligible for the role, with 24% believing it requires a degree in law. In fact most people can become a magistrate – from ambulance drivers, to mechanics, to personal trainers.

The campaign aims to attract people from a wide range of backgrounds – from teachers to bricklayers, to stay-at-home mums, and any individuals who can display reason and sound judgment. It seeks to make the magistracy more representative of the communities it serves and will specifically target younger people – with anyone over 18 encouraged to consider the role.

Currently in the North West over half of magistrates (56%) are women but only 9% are from a Black, Asian or Ethnic Minority background. The Ministry of Justice is keen to continue to attract, and increase the number of diverse candidates to ensure the magistracy reflects the diversity of the region. The MoJ is also looking to attract a younger wave of volunteers, with less than one in ten magistrates (5.9%) in the North West currently under 40.

Each day magistrates across England and Wales make life-changing decisions in cases as varied as fraud and sexual assault. The work is voluntary with individuals expected to dedicate a minimum of 13 days a year service, meaning many magistrates often fulfil this crucial role easily alongside full-time employment and caring responsibilities.

Today’s announcement comes as the Government recently unveiled plans to double magistrates’ sentencing powers from six months to a year to help drive down waiting times and bring criminals to justice more quickly. The step is expected to free up an estimated 1,700 extra days of Crown Court time annually.

Daniel Longman (33 years old) is a Conservation Officer from the Wirral and has been a magistrate for 6 years. He became a magistrate when he was exploring options to learn new skills improve his employability.

“It is vital for our local communities that modern society is properly represented on the bench. This means that anyone, from all walks of life, backgrounds and experience has the potential to be a magistrate. Don’t ever feel like you won’t fit in. It’s an honour and a privilege to hold the responsibility to sit in court and ensure justice is served. All you need is intelligence, empathy and a bit of common sense.”

Deputy Prime Minister, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice, Dominic Raab, said:

“Magistrates are a vital pillar of our world-class justice system and we want people from every part of society represented in their ranks.

“If you care about your community and want to give back then I would encourage you to apply to become a magistrate. There are few other opportunities that can make such a difference in people’s lives.

“Alongside our plans to double their sentencing powers from six months to a year, this recruitment drive will ensure magistrates can play an even greater role in restoring the swift justice the public deserve”

All magistrates are given robust training and an experienced mentor in their first year to develop their skills and legal knowledge. The top qualities that MoJ 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.

Vera Deacon (48 years old) is a Housing Manager from Liverpool and has been a magistrate since 2018. She became a magistrate after visiting court with her Law studying son. Vera said:

“I wanted to learn more about the justice system and saw volunteering as a great opportunity to give back to my community. I’ve since learned so much and have transferred many of those skills to my paid employment – benefitting my own career progression as well as my employer.”

Bev Higgs, National Chair of the Magistrates’ Association said:

“The Magistrates’ Association is pleased to support this recruitment campaign and would encourage people of all ages and backgrounds to contribute their lived experience, knowledge and commitment to the judiciary.

“It is vitally important that Magistrates’ Courts reflect their local communities, and we welcome all who join us in this unique and very rewarding role.”

For more information: https://www.gov.uk/become-magistrate/can-you-be-a-magistrate