Magistrates aren’t generally allowed to speak to the media, so the Magistrates’ Association (MA) fulfils an important role as the only collective and independent public voice of the magistracy. We talk to the media on our members’ behalf about a wide range of topical legal and magistrate-related subjects, as well as clearing up as many misconceptions about magistrates and their work as we can. We do it because we feel it is very important, and member surveys tell us that you value this sort of work too.
Our small communications team of just two people works tirelessly to do this, alongside their other work, and it’s making us a go-to resource for journalists and broadcasters: in the year to June 2024, the MA secured 1,275 pieces of media coverage – a huge increase of 403 per cent on the same period the year before.
Since our last round-up in June, we have secured over 2,100 pieces of coverage on topics including the extension of magistrates’ sentencing range, the government’s sentencing review, the Autumn Budget, our key asks of the new government, judicial diversity, Single Justice Procedure (SJP), the emergency measures to deal with prison overcrowding, delays in family courts and the magistrates’ recruitment drive.
In July, our key asks of the new government were covered by the Times and sector outlets including Inside Time, Police Professional and Today’s Family Lawyer. Our statement urged the government to fundamentally review the whole system and back it up with proper and sustained investment, and identified six areas for improvement.
In the same month, we shared our response to the latest judicial diversity statistics with the Times, where we highlighted the importance of the diversity of the magistracy, welcomed the progress made so far and acknowledged that there is still much room for improvement. We called for a review of the recruitment process to identify why the success rate of ethnic minority applicants was significantly lower than white applicants, and we shared our suggestions to increase the number of applications from working-class people.
August was a very busy month, as the riots placed our justice system under the spotlight. We responded to reports that courts may sit around the clock to hear cases relating to the rioting in cities across England, and this was picked by several media outlets such as the Law Society Gazette. One of our deputy national chairs, Jacqui MacDonald-Davis, appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Today programme and BBC Radio 5 Live’s Breakfast programme to talk about it.
We also responded to the Chief Magistrate’s ruling on the “unlawful” use of the SJP for up to 75,000 rail fare evasion cases. We said that the key issue was with the prosecuting authorities and repeated our call for the reform of the SJP. Many outlets, including BBC News and the Financial Times, featured our comments. To share our position even more widely, our chief executive, Tom Franklin, talked to BBC Radio 4’s the World This Weekend programme, Channel 5 and ITV.
Later in August, we published a media statement on Operation Early Dawn, the emergency measure to deal with prison overcrowding by delaying cases in the magistrates’ courts, in which we expressed our concerns about these further delays. This was covered widely by the media, from the Daily Mail to the Press Association. Tom also gave several interviews on the topic, including BBC One, Bloomberg and Times Radio.
Also in August, we responded to reports that a listing direction had been issued to the managers of magistrates’ courts advising the postponement of sentencing hearings of offenders who were likely to receive a custodial sentence. We stressed that this demonstrated the need for a long-term plan and an injection of more resources at every stage of the justice process. We secured hundreds of pieces of coverage on this, from the Daily Telegraph to Wales Online. Tom appeared on BBC Radio 5 Live, Sky News and Times Radio to discuss it.
We also responded to a Guardian article about a sexual assault case which featured appalling comments reported as being made by a magistrate.
In September, we were quoted by the Times on the delays in family courts. We suggested more public law allocation for magistrates to ensure the timely delivery of justice for all.
In the same month, City A.M. featured our views, helping to explain how sentences are determined – something that most people are unaware of. We highlighted that judges and magistrates follow strict guidelines in deciding on appropriate sentences, and that they consider a range of different factors.
We also continued securing coverage on our position statement on the Single Justice Procedure, as Tom was interviewed as part of an ITV and the Evening Standard joint investigation.
Media engagement is a key tool that we use to promote the magistracy and to correct misunderstandings about what magistrates do. So, when our Dorset branch chair told us about a letter by the local MP, in the New Stour & Avon Magazine, which was critical of magistrates, we made sure our response was published – please see page 10.
Also in September, we responded to reports that the magistrates’ sentencing range could be extended to 12 months. Various outlets such as the Daily Telegraph and the Press Association featured our reaction, and Tom Franklin went on BBC Radio 2 and Radio 4 to talk about it.
Then in October, the extension of magistrates’ sentencing range to 12 months was announced, we welcomed it. We’ve long campaigned for this – and made this case to ministers – as a vital means of ensuring speedier justice for victims, witnesses and defendants. Our views were widely covered by the media, including BBC News, the Daily Mail, Nation Cymru and the Times, and BBC Radio 4 and Radio 5 Live interviewed Tom on this.
In the same month, we welcomed the announcement of the sentencing review and shared our views with the Law Society Gazette. We expressed our support for the measures to reduce the use of short-term prison sentences but highlighted that there were two factors critical in their reduction.
Later in October, we responded to the autumn budget and welcomed the extra money announced for justice. However, we stressed that all parts of the justice system, including courts, need considerable new investment if justice is to be served fairly and efficiently, and identified four key areas that need investment. Several outlets including City A.M., New Law Journal and the Daily Telegraph featured our statement.
Also in October, Tom was on Times Radio to discuss the ongoing magistrates’ recruitment drive. He highlighted that a number of things must be worked on to make the magistracy more appealing, such as expenses – something we have been campaigning for a long time – because, as many of you will know, magistrates often bear the costs themselves; effectively subsidising the justice system from their own pocket. The Daily Telegraph featured our views on this too.
