Creating a new intermediate court to help speed up justice and reduce delays, where less serious offences would be tried by a judge and two magistrates rather than by a judge and jury, is one of ten recommendations made by the Times Crime and Justice Commission, which has just published its wide-ranging plan to reform the criminal justice system in England and Wales.
The Magistrates’ Association (MA) is proud to have played a part in this high-profile initiative, established by The Times newspaper in April 2024, which brought together over 500 experts – including MA Chief Executive Tom Franklin – to explore all aspects of the criminal justice system, including policing, courts, sentencing, prisons and rehabilitation.
Chaired by Times journalist Rachel Sylvester and supported by a distinguished panel of commissioners – including former Lord Chief Justice Lord Burnett of Maldon; the Prisons Minister Lord Timpson; Claire Waxman the Victims’ commissioner for London; and other figures from the police, judiciary, civil society and business worlds – the year-long project set out to investigate the criminal justice system and its major challenges. The Commission’s final report, informed by extensive site visits, economic analysis, polling and focus groups, makes clear that urgent action is needed.
“The problems in the criminal justice system are clear for all to see,” the report states. “The status quo is not an option.”
As well as its proposal for a new intermediate court featuring a judge and two magistrates, other recommendations include a different approach to sentencing with a stronger focus on rehabilitation and alternatives to custody; data-driven policing to target persistent offenders and crime hotspots to clamp-down on shoplifting, robbery and antisocial behaviour; sentencing reform; and a unified digital case file to improve support for victims.
Tom Franklin, Chief Executive of the Magistrates’ Association, gave in-person evidence to the Commission in November 2024. He said:
“The Magistrates’ Association is pleased to have contributed to this important piece of work. The Commission’s recognition of the need for a joined-up, evidence-led criminal justice system is deeply welcome. In particular, the proposal to introduce a new intermediate court reflects a growing consensus – not just by this Commission – that magistrates can and should play a greater role in easing pressure on our overwhelmed courts. This is a clear signal that the voice of magistrates is being heard at the highest levels.”
The Magistrates’ Association advocates for the role of magistrates in delivering timely, fair and local justice. We are examining the report’s recommendations in detail and pushing for reforms that empower magistrates to do even more to support a justice system that works for all.
You can read more about the Commission’s work and download the full report via The Times website.
The Commission’s report doesn’t have any official status, and the government isn’t obliged to act of any of its recommendations, but some of them are in line with those that may feature in the Leveson report, due to be published this spring or summer.
