Recruitment drive to find 45 Staffordshire magistrates
A recruitment drive has been launched to find 45 new magistrates to sit at courts across Staffordshire.
Fifteen magistrates are being taken on in Cannock and Stafford, with the rest being recruited to work in the north and east of the county.
Those who apply must be aged between 18 and 65 and commit to working at least 13 days a year. Magistrates do not get paid although they can claim expenses.
Charles Theaker, deputy chairman of the advisory committee in Staffordshire, is helping with the recruitment drive.
He said: "We recruited last year but for the previous five years no recruitment took place.
"Crime rates have been falling and the police have been intervening earlier. Minor offences are getting more on the spot fines.
"We've got magistrates retiring and moving away so we need to recruit again. Last year we recruited 30 magistrates. We had a good response to that drive."
No professional qualifications are needed to become a magistrate.
Magistrates hear cases in courts in their community.
Each case is usually heard by three magistrates, including a magistrate who is trained to act as a chairperson.
A legal adviser in the court gives advice on the law and makes sure the magistrates follow the right procedures.
They pass the most serious crimes to the crown court.
Magistrates decide if the defendant should be kept in custody or released on bail.
Mr Theaker added: "People who apply don't need to have any knowledge of the law. Training is given.
"Being a magistrate is putting something back into society. It's useful to do."
Chairman of the central and south west Staffordshire bench, Jenny Webb, added: "Ideally we'd like younger people and ethnic minorities to apply.
"But people can come from all walks of life. We're like one big family."
There are currently around 350 magistrates that cover the whole of Staffordshire – with 170 working in Cannock and Stafford.
Jenny added: "We work as a team and have to work closely with the CPS and other agencies.
"You can learn many new skills from being a magistrate and take that back into the work place if you have a job."
The new recruits will undergo intensive training. The deadline to apply is March 12.
Interviews will take place between April and July. The chosen 45 will be sworn in soon after that and the new recruits will start during the early part of 2016. To apply go to the website at www.gov.uk/become-magistrate
