More powers granted to magistrates to tackle cases backlog

ITN
2 年前
Magistrates are to be given more sentencing powers in a bid to tackle the backlog of cases and ease the pressure on crown courts. Magistrates will be able to hand out jail terms of up to a year - double the current maximum of six months. Justice Secretary Dominic Raab described magistrates as the "unsung heroes" during the Covid-19 pandemic as they "kept the wheels of justice turning.".