Musings and Snippets from a recently retired JP. I served for 31 years, mostly in west London. I was Chairman of my Bench for some years, and a member of the National Bench Chairmen's Forum All cases are based on real ones, but anonymised and composited. All opinions are those of one or more individuals. JPs swear to enforce the law of the land, whether or not they approve of it. Nothing on here constitutes legal advice.
Sunday, July 21, 2013
Another Bright Idea Down The Pan.......
I am grateful to our friend Obiter J (link on the sidebar to the right) for the news that the MoJ is consulting (i.e has decided upon) on the closure of the North Liverpool Community Justice Centre. I am one of those who sat through repeated presentations on the future of 'community' justice, and I heard David Fletcher, the judge in charge who could morph between Circuit judge and DJ(MC) at will, speak about the project. It turns out that it didn't work, and cost a bomb.
My doubts were immediate, reinforced by the enthusiasm shown by populist politicians, and sure enough, the curtain is about to fall. I blogged about the project several times, such as here here here and here.
I know it's childish to say it, but I TOLD YOU SO!
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You did and you were right!
ReplyDeleteAlas, Bystander and team, I must disagree. I watched the court at work many times and talked to DF - a most humane and thoughtful judge - as well as the staff working for probation, police etc. It was an excellent idea well executed but fell foul of a good many people including the then Labour govt. All the research reports cited by ObiterJ were very much interim - with question marks about their findings - and now it looks as if it will succumb to cost-cutting and other local intrigue.
ReplyDeleteOf course it has to "succumb to cost cutting". It was vastly expensive when it was set up and the government is skint. One wonders what happened to the bright spark who came up with the idea, given that to anyone looking on from yonder it was always going to fail because it was so expensive. Will he or she be held to account? No chance. It's the tax payer's money so nobody cares.
ReplyDeleteAnd of course, 'community justice' is what magistrates have been doing for 650 years.
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