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Participants at the seminar
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FOLLOWING the advice and support of the Lord Chancellor, Birmingham Magistrates Courts have taken up the challenge to ensure that its magistrates' benches resemble the communities they serve.
Operation Black Vote in partnership with the Ministry of Justice has re-launched a groundbreaking campaign which has already begun to change the face of the magistracy.
Over 30 people who took part in the national Scheme have already been appointed as magistrates and nearly 70 other participants are awaiting their interview outcomes.
A series of free one day seminars entitled, 'A judiciary for all' are being organised in regions across the country, to help improve Black and other minority ethnic (BME) representation within the magistracy and to increase BME awareness of the criminal justice process.
The seminars will provide individuals considering applying to the magistracy with the knowledge and understanding of the role of magistrates and the work of the Criminal Justice System. On Saturday November 3rd at Birmingham Magistrates Court over 60 people from Birmingham's Black and Minority Ethnic community came together to learn about the Magistracy.
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The day was hailed as a great success by the delegates present and over 90% over them said afterward they are going to apply to become a Magistrate.
The seminar was part of an open day organised by Operation Black Vote and Birmingham Magistrates Court as part of the national Inside Justice Week initiative.
Rt. Hon. Jack Straw MP, Lord Chancellor said: "The magistracy should of course reflect the communities it serves. We therefore support this important opportunity to encourage more people from the Black and minority ethnic population to become magistrates."
Stephen Abbott, Court Centre Manager for Birmingham Magistrates' Court, said: "We were very pleased to see so many people attend this successful event.
We are continually looking to increase magistrates to the bench particularly from the BME community. It's events like this that help find those suitable candidates."
Francine Fernandes, Head of OBV Shadowing Schemes said: "The day was a great success and clearly demonstrates the talent and commitment which our communities have to positively participating in public life. These efforts must continue so that the judicial landscape changes to mirror Britain's multi-ethnic society and BME communities up and down the country have greater confidence in the judicial system at every level."
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