Magistrates back reforms to the regulation of private prosecutors
In its response to the government’s review of the regulation of private prosecutors, the Magistrates' Association has made recommendations in key areas that it believes will improve transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the Single Justice Procedure, as well as in private prosecutors more generally.
- Adult court matters
- Wider justice system
Oversight and regulation of private prosecutors
We welcome this consultation’s proposals to make private prosecutors more accountable, and we’re especially pleased with its focus on their use of the Single Justice Procedure (SJP). We have made recommendations in key areas that we believe will improve transparency, accountability, and public confidence in the SJP, as well as in private prosecutors more generally.
- Adult court matters
Living with drug dependency – Choose Life
Choose Life, a charity based in the northwest of England, uses the lived experience of recovered drug users to educate young people and professionals on the dangers of Class A drugs. Project manager, Steve Duffy MBE and project volunteers will give magistrates insights into the day-to-day world of someone addicted to drugs and some of the experiences they may have had before you see them in court.
- Addictions and drug issues
Our scheme of delegation
Spring 2025 Bench update
This is a short report on the activities of the Magistrates’ Association (MA) on behalf of magistrates. Members can copy text from this PDF and use it in their own communications.
- Practicalities of being a magistrate
- Volunteer only
MA elections 2025
Have you ever thought about becoming a trustee of the Magistrates’ Association (MA) – helping to shape its future direction, and taking a greater part in activities at a national level?
The Modern Slavery Act a Decade On: Survivors Still Criminalised, Not Protected
In this guest blog, Cat Linton, anti-trafficking policy officer at Hibiscus Initiatives, reflects on the findings of their recent briefing in collaboration with After Exploitation, on the criminalisation of modern slavery survivors.
- Modern slavery and exploitation
Latest updates for magistrates: April 2025
From children in prison to ten years of the Modern Slavery Act, read the recent updates from across the justice system.
- Family court matters
- Modern slavery and exploitation
- Youth court matters
Youth court disparity toolkit
Disproportionality – the situation where a group's representation in a specific area (like the youth justice system) is significantly different from their representation in the overall population – is a policy priority for the MA.
As part of our work in this area, we have published this Youth Court Disparity Toolkit, which has been produced by the MA’s Youth Court Committee in conjunction with key partners.
This toolkit is designed to be a memory aid for youth magistrates to use whilst in court about some of the drivers of disparity. It is not a prescriptive instruction about how you should conduct a hearing, rather a reminder about elements you may wish to consider when making decisions about a child in court.
- Youth court matters
New magistrate webinar
Spring 2025 Bench update
This is a short report on the activities of the Magistrates’ Association (MA) on behalf of magistrates. Members can copy text from this PDF and use it in their own communications.
- Volunteer only
- Wider justice system
MA contributes to landmark Times crime and justice commission report
The proposal to introduce a new intermediate court reflects a growing consensus.
- Wider justice system
Could you be one of MA’s new trustees?
Nominations from branch executive members are especially welcome.
- Volunteer only
Regional meetings for branches: Summer 2025
We’ll be heading out in June and July for the MA’s regional meetings with branches.
- Volunteer only
New CRM system will help future-proof the MA
This is a major investment in our future.
- Volunteer only
Conference 2025 – Lancaster
- Victims
Local Justice Areas consultation: what branches can do?
We’d like all MA branches to take a number of steps to help during this consultation period.
- Volunteer only
All you need to know about organising a successful branch outing
We’ve compiled six tips to support our branch volunteers in organising successful visits.
- Volunteer only
The Local Justice Areas consultation
We will be hosting a webinar for members on the LJA consultation, to discuss the key questions in the consultation. Mark, Chair of the association and Tom, Chief Executive, along with other committee representatives will be leading the webinar. These will be used to gather members thoughts and opinions before we form a response to the consultation.
The Local Justice Areas consultation
We will be hosting a webinar for members on the LJA consultation, to discuss the key questions in the consultation. Mark, Chair of the association and Tom, Chief Executive, along with other committee representatives will be leading the webinar. These will be used to gather members thoughts and opinions before we form a response to the consultation.
