You may be aware that some 12 months ago the Courts service here in Cumbria began a recruitment drive in order to appoint new Justices of the Peace for this county.

Historically and traditionally magistrates have always been appointed from within the locality in which they live. This led to the developing concept of 'Local Justice'.

Taking this precedent forward, I was personally aware of a local, well-respected Kendalian applying for such a position. His family is from the town, he had excellent references and was a keen advocate of all things Cumbrian.

Unbelievably he was turned down without even the courtesy of being offered an initial first interview. I was extremely surprised and saddened to hear this news and have no idea why the Courts authority took this unusual decision.

It has recently come to my attention that some new magistrates have been appointed into this area. These include a person who lives in North Yorkshire, and, even more unusually, a person whose main residence is in Cheshire!

If this were not bad enough, magistrates are entitled to claim their mileage expenses when travelling to court. They can claim in excess of 45p per mile. In these days of cost cutting, on mileage costs alone these appointments seem unwarranted and expensive especially if they have to sit in Barrow.

It also confirms that 'local' justice is a thing of the past. Without detracting from the applicants themselves, these two appointments give the impression that the Court authority have little confidence in appointing local people to their local court. A sad perception indeed.

This attitude may be because the management structure is now mainly based in Manchester and Preston. A far cry from when magistrates were appointed in Kendal.

David Collinson

Former legal adviser to the Justices in Cumbria and Lancashire

Kendal