Magistrates' sentencing powers cut

The association said it had been ‘assured that the pause is temporary’ and warned it would ‘erode magistrates’ already low morale’.

Magistrates’ sentencing powers were increased from their usual six months to 12 last year by the Lord Chancellor Dominic Raab as part of the drive to reduce the crown court backlog. However, the Ministry of Justice confirmed last week it was reversing the change.

Welcoming the reversal, however, Kirsty Brimelow KC, chair of the Criminal Bar Association, said: ‘As we pointed out in January 2022 [when new powers were announced], increasing magistrates’ sentencing was a bad idea for reasons of increasing short prison sentences; increasing defendants electing to go to crown court, and increasing appeals in crown court.’