Why it’s time to recognise magistrates as volunteers

There are around 14,000 magistrates in England and Wales. These are ordinary people, from all walks of life, who give up their time – invariably during the working day – to handle over 90% of criminal cases and a significant proportion of family cases too. They do this not for pay, but out of public spirit – and many serve for decades. It is a civic duty in its purest form.

Magistrates consistently say they are proud of their public service. Many cite a strong sense of civic-mindedness and a duty to give back to their communities as their main motivation for volunteering. Others highlight the chance to apply their skills and serve in a stimulating environment. Data from a major survey conducted as part of our 2022 ‘It Shouldn’t’ Cost to Volunteer’ report shows this clearly: of 930 responses explaining why our members joined the magistracy, the most common words were ‘community’, ‘giving back’, and ‘society’. Almost all (98%) agreed with the statement: ‘I provide an important service to my community by being a magistrate’. More than three quarters (76%) said they would still have applied, even knowing what they now know about the role, and 99% said they are committed to doing the job well.

Yet despite this, magistrates often don’t feel like they are recognised as volunteers. Their service is treated as a given. Recognition is inconsistent. Financial support for even basic expenses is often delayed or reduced, leaving many out of pocket. And unlike other public service volunteers – such as special constables or St John Ambulance crew – magistrates don’t receive recognition after ten years of service.

This isn’t about special treatment. It’s about fairness. The government has ambitious plans to recruit more magistrates, but if that ambition is to succeed, and if we want to build a sustainable, representative magistracy for the future, we must start treating magistrates with the same respect and recognition that we afford to other equally vital volunteer roles.

That’s the argument at the heart of our new report, Magistrates Matter: A Plan to Ensure Magistrates Are Valued, Appreciated and Recognised. The report draws on powerful testimony from magistrates across the country and presents seven practical, evidence-based recommendations to strengthen morale, support recruitment, and reduce resignations.

Among them, we call for:

1. A multi-year recruitment and retention strategy for the magistracy
2. A Magistrates’ Volunteer Charter that codifies rights, expectations and support
3. The creation of a long service medal, aligned with other public service roles
4. Stronger local and national efforts to recognise magistrates’ contributions in a meaningful and consistent way.

We also urge the Ministry of Justice to begin formally tracking magistrates’ volunteering hours – to quantify what the justice system gains from their unpaid service. These are not small asks, but they are achievable, and they would make a tangible difference.

At a time when formal volunteering is in decline, and the justice system is under immense strain, we can’t afford to take magistrates for granted. If we want to retain experienced volunteers – and attract new ones from all parts of society – we must be willing to invest in recognition, respect, and structured support.

Magistrates are proud to serve. I see this every day in the passion, professionalism and sense of justice they bring to the role. But goodwill has limits – and I worry we’re getting dangerously close to those limits now.

It’s often said that the magistracy is a ‘democratic jewel beyond price’. But even a jewel needs care, polish and protection. We hope that this report will be a step towards that – and that by working together with government, civil society, and the wider voluntary sector, we can ensure the magistracy remains strong, sustainable, and reflective of the communities it serves.