Written submission from Luke Rigg JP (North London Bench)
My name is Luke Rigg and I am a twenty-one-year-old magistrate based at Highbury Corner Magistrates’ Court (North London LJA). I was appointed last year at Calderdale Magistrates’ Court when I was in my final year at University. I subsequently moved to London as I got my first job – so was able to transfer courts. I began my mentored sittings with a mentor in Calderdale and continued with a different mentor in North London. I would like to contribute to this inquiry (in a personal capacity) because I am currently directly experiencing some of the issues that your inquiry wishes to address, or have had recent experiences of them.
I would like to focus my contribution on two of the points of reference to your inquiry:
1) Is the current method and rate of recruitment for magistrates adequate? How could the role be made more appealing? How could diversity be improved?
2) Is the level of training and continuous development and support for magistrates adequate? How could it be improved?
Regarding the recruitment of magistrates:
- I first became aware of the role of the magistracy when I attended Calderdale MC aged 18 (part of an exercise day for local sixth forms). We learnt about the role of MCs in the judicial system and who the magistracy is. Until that day I couldn’t have told you what a magistrate was! After visiting the court I looked online to see whether it would be possible to apply to be a magistrate. The court website said they were currently not recruiting magistrates (in the Yorkshire area) but put me on a mailing list in case any vacancies emerged. Over a year later I was emailed…
- I’ve never seen a single paper, TV, radio advert for magistrates – which puzzles me because it seems the only other ways people apply to be magistrates is through word of mouth or by proactively looking for it. The magistracy should be promoting themselves via media to attract people from all social backgrounds – as I fear that “word of mouth” only reaches as far as the small social circles of magistrates.
- I am well aware I am one of the youngest magistrates in the country – and my younger age became clear as soon as I reached the interview stage of the application process. Sitting in front of me on the interview panel were three white, old, grey haired magistrates! It then came as no surprise when I learnt that over 50% of the country’s magistrates are over 60. Given that magistrates have to retire at the age of 70 the magistracy is going to experience a huge recruitment challenge in the next ten years to cope with the demands of replacing JPs.
Regarding the training and development of magistrates:
- I am reaching the end of my mentored sittings as a new magistrate – and the whole process has taken nearly a year.
- I’m in full time employment – which makes it very difficult to sit enough times that I am able to keep up with the pace of development and the court process. Luckily, my employer (public sector) allocates up to a maximum of 15 days a year to allow employees to sit as magistrates – which is 15 days more than most private sector organisations. But nevertheless I worry that 15 days is enough to be able to meet the challenges faced by magistrates and to maintain our competencies in court. The minimum number of sittings is 13 but this more or less equates to one sitting a month.
- Retired magistrates end up sitting for far more sittings than the maximum because they’re the only ones available to sit on certain days – as most of the working magistrates can’t due to employment reasons.
- I know other magistrates who work full time and they share the problems of balancing work and magistrate life in order to sit enough times to keep up the knowledge of the court.
- In London they have begun rolling out Saturday sittings – which is a blessing to many working magistrates. Our court emailed us to say there were several Saturday sittings from now until June so I registered for all of them – and was allocated one – as there was high demand from other working magistrates. This is exactly the kind of initiative courts need to take if they want to encourage a more diverse magistracy that better reflects reality.
- I believe this inquiry needs to seriously think about solutions to the problem facing working magistrates – particularly if the committee agrees that diversity is key to the magistracy.
My reflections:
- We need younger magistrates. Most people my age don’t know what a magistrate is and can’t begin to think they might be the kind of people needed in the magistracy. Also, in court I can’t help but wonder whether a defendant who sees three old white magistrates feels a part of the judicial system and doesn’t feel the system is built up to be against them.
- We need more magistrates who better reflect our different social groups in the UK – or rather – we need more working class magistrates. In my first year as a magistrate I’ve never met so many retired management consultants – and I’d never heard of what a management consultant was until I met the first. So many company directors, charity execs and consultants – and so many white faces in what is an incredibly diverse area of the UK (North London). There is clearly a reason why the magistracy does not attract a diverse range of people – and it needs to change.
- Initiatives such as Saturday sittings are a fantastic idea in making the magistracy better reflect the reality of working life – and make it easier for working magistrates like me to sit more often – so there should be greater thinking around the
- The magistracy needs a bigger profile – if employers knew more about the work of the magistracy I believe they’d be more inclined to the idea of allowing their employees to be magistrates. This links back to my point about greater advertising of the magistracy. Surely there should be posters/online adverts for magistrates? I’ve seen none! I realise the magistracy has to maintain a dignified, discreet profile but equally it needs to begin to better reflect modern Britain.
I am happy to elaborate on my points at a future date if any are of interest. I am also keen to meet the committee to discuss further how we can help make the magistracy more diverse as I am becoming increasingly passionate about this area – not least through my first hand experience of being a younger-than-normal magistrate!