Thousands step forward in record magistrate recruitment drive
What was announced
More than 3,800 new magistrates have been recruited under this Government to help get more cases heard.
Key points, in the publisher's words
- More than 3,800 local champions recruited under this Government
- First-of-its-kind audio recording pilot launched in magistrates’ courts
- Part of Government’s plan to deliver a stronger justice system for victims
Figures in this announcement
Each line is quoted from the original. Figures are as the publisher stated them on the day.
- “In the first six months of 2026, almost 1,500 local justice champions have been appointed to serve their communities - almost double the number recruited in the same period the previous year - accelerating efforts to bolster capacity in the magistrates’ courts.”
- “Aiming to build a magistracy that reflects modern Britain, recent statistics have shown women accounted for 55% of new appointments with more than a third of new recruits under the age of under 50.”
- “It comes as the Government launched a £4 million recruitment campaign across national television and social media, encouraging the public to step forward and serve their communities and deliver justice, in a bid to deliver a 21,000-strong magistracy in 2028/29.”
Who and where
People
- Sarah Sackman (MP for Finchley and Golders Green (Labour)) · more news
UK bodies of power
- Ministry of Justice (UK government department) · more news
- HM Courts & Tribunals Service (executive agency) · more news
Constituencies of the MPs named: Finchley And Golders Green.
Where this sits in the 10 levels of power
Topics, as GOV.UK files them: Courts, sentencing and tribunals, Criminal justice reform.
Receipt
- Original: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/thousands-step-forward-in-record-magistrate-recruitment-drive
- Published 2026-10-23 13:49:37 UTC
- Read by this site 2026-10-23 19:45:33 UTC from GOV.UK
- Saved copy: receipt 773, with its SHA-256 fingerprint
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.
Related official news
- Lord Chancellor visits United Nations to promote British candidate to UN court
- Lord Chancellor letter to Nick Timothy MP: October 2026
- Respect Orders launch targeting anti-social behaviour offenders
- New panel to give child abuse and exploitation survivors a voice
- Reappointment of 22 members to the Parole Board
More from GOV.UK
- Legacy system local plan extension: letter from the Housing Minister
- Chief of Defence hosts tenth Dragon Group meeting in London
- Final call for public to submit their memories for Queen Elizabeth Digital Memorial
- Steps to Safety initiative introduced in 12 areas across England
- Minister steps in to help save a prehistoric British battle-axe head from leaving the UK
- October 2026 newsletter: Key updates from the IAA
Also announced on 23 October 2026
- Discussing Implementation of UN Charter, Sixth Committee Touches on Sanctions, Peaceful Dispute Settlement
- Daily Press Briefing by the Office of the Spokesperson for the Secretary-General
- Secretary-General Condemns Terrorist Attack on Church Service in Jordan
- Security Council Press Statement on 19 October Drone Attacks in Abyei Area
- Weak Cyberspace Governance Can Undermine Peace, Security, First Committee Told, Calling for Responsible State Behaviors
- Mediation Can Turn ‘Possibility of Peace into a Lasting Reality’, Says Secretary-General in Remarks to Istanbul Conference