Very many thanks, Joshua, for the revelation - for me, at least-about the reduction in Magistrates’ sentencing powers.
From forty seven years of appearing before them I have a very high regard for the Magistracy. That once said, given the irresponsible and (presumably) ideologically driven underfunding and under regarding of the criminal justice system since in particular 2010, the reduction in sentencing powers must surely be a sensible step.
I am with Chair of the Criminal Bar,Kirsty Brimelow,KC, over this since over the imposition of the full extent of their powers before the twenty sixth of February yet MORE low or medium level offenders would have been lost in the maw of our shameful prison estate ,much of which would have been condemned if cattle had been “housed” in it.
Very many thanks, Joshua, for the revelation - for me, at least-about the reduction in Magistrates’ sentencing powers.
From forty seven years of appearing before them I have a very high regard for the Magistracy. That once said, given the irresponsible and (presumably) ideologically driven underfunding and under regarding of the criminal justice system since in particular 2010, the reduction in sentencing powers must surely be a sensible step.
I am with Chair of the Criminal Bar,Kirsty Brimelow,KC, over this since over the imposition of the full extent of their powers before the twenty sixth of February yet MORE low or medium level offenders would have been lost in the maw of our shameful prison estate ,much of which would have been condemned if cattle had been “housed” in it.