Should magistrates in the UK go on the streets with the Police and give summary sentences to law breakers?

Realist

No. magistrates are supposed to be drawn from volunteers, and represent a cross section of the community, the police have the powers and are paid to keep the Queens Peace. I have known Crown Court Juries and also coroners juries to visit sites appertaining to the case they are hearing ,but JP's no.

frankturk50

I have known magistrates to go out with the police to observe and it did them the world of good.I think it should be obligatory.You could not have them giving sentences on the spot as this would be unlawful as everyone is entitled to their day in court.

groovymaude

I agree with 203, during the training period they should spend one morning, one noon and one night shift with the police, preferably including a Saturday night, just observing.

They could also do with spending a couple of hours in the waiting area at mags court on a Monday morning, so they can see and hear what goes on before some of the defendants are called!

k97city

policing the streets for unpaid
magistrates? don't count on
it. let the police do their own dirty
work.

dcukldon

Yes.... It may then make them see the true effect crime has on the victims of it and the police officers dealing.. Also the victims and polices annoyance at there sentencing decisions.. Certainly would be an eye opener...

As all it seems to take is a little sob and am so sorry when two mins prior to going in court there with there mate laughing about the granny the just mugged.

Good Q...

203

No but I think it would be helpful for some magistrates to see the kind of things happening infront of them that they then sit in adjudication of in the cold sterility of a court room. It could close the reality gap a bit.

Dai Sick

They're only paid expenses, so I guess they won't want to go out on the streets, The police would have extra work to do looking after them and if the person complained and went to court they could say the magistrate wasn't in partial. The police are allowed to give out on the spot fines now for things like anti-social behaviour. Law breakers have a right to a court hearing ( just in case they are actually Innocent ).
I had a magistrate once, made a hell of a mess in our kitchen . . . . . . . . . . or was that a magpie, something with a beak?

RedSnook

Fair point, but the magistrates would probably be more disrespected than the police.

srracvuee

your quest doesn't make sense to me

I don't think most mags would survive 5 minutes on the streets going out with the old bill.
Did you know magistrates don't even need to have any formal legal qualifications to do their job. Its disgusting.

Matrix

I'm not sure, sorry.

RangerEsq

No.

This is obviously impractical and a major threat to personal freedom. Why would you even ask? What are you thinking that makes this a question for discussion?

if they need help sure.

anotherbsdparent

Magistrates in the UK volunteer their time and are unpaid for their work.

Why would they take up a full time job of law enforcements on the street when we have police to do that and magistrates have a day job to go to?

Olympicles

No. They are not the law, they simply apply it.

Enter Your Message or Comment

User Name:
User Email:
Post a comment: