Magistrates Courts 'In Crisis' Over Govt Costs

The magistrates court system in England and Wales has been gripped by a growing crisis, with dozens of experienced magistrates resigning in a row over government imposed court costs. The Criminal Court Charge was introduced by the Ministry of Justice in April as a means of ensuring that convicted adult offenders pay towards the cost of running the criminal justice system. Bob Hutchinson, a magistrate in Blackpool for the past 11 years, is one of those who has stepped down.