§ The Secretary of State for Constitutional Affairs and Lord Chancellor (Lord Falconer of Thoroton)The problems dealt with every day in the magistrates' courts are at the very top of the public agenda. We rely on them to be the front line in terms of dealing with crime, youth justice, and many family issues.
I have an ambition for magistrates' courts that will see them more connected to their communities; more respected for what they do and their orders obeyed with the public having confidence in them; and more effective at what they do—dispensing local justice.
To realise this I am working in partnership with the magistracy, the district judges and those working in magistrates' courts to identify what can be done to achieve this vision and that will supplement the substantial changes already taking place in the magistrates' courts.
As part of this programme of work, Supporting Magistrates to Provide Justice, tomorrow I am writing to every single lay magistrate in England and Wales inviting them to complete a questionnaire to give me their ideas and suggestions.
The questionnaire will also be made available to the professional judiciary, all those who work in the magistrates' courts and all organisations within the criminal justice system.
Further detail on the scope and objectives of this work, as well as electronic versions of the questionnaire, can be found on the Internet at www.dca.gov.uk/magistrates.htm