A LONG-SERVING magistrate has quit the bench because of what she claims is an unfair surcharge levied on offenders, reports Michaela Robinson-Tate.

Judith Johnson, of Cartmel, became one of a number of magistrates nationally to step down over the issue of the so-called victim surcharge'.

Mrs Johnson had sat on the Furness and District Bench at Barrow since 1993, and was expecting to continue for a number of years.

She said that the Government had brought in the measure from April 1 with little accompanying information for magistrates, who are now required to impose a £15 surcharge on anyone given a fine in court.

Mrs Johnson said: "The people who are going to pay this surcharge are only going to be the people who are fined. To my mind, that's unjust, unfair, and it's something I cannot go along with."

Full story in April 20 Westmorland Gazette.