MacAskill launches bid to recruit Justices of the Peace

Published on Wednesday 17 September 2008 09:50

WOMEN, young people, the disabled and members of the black community are being targeted in the first marketing campaign to recruit more than 50 Justices of the Peace across Scotland.

Scotland currently has 450 JPs serving in 61 courts across the country, dealing with cases involving theft, assault, breach of the peace and road traffic offences.

More than 50 per cent are aged over 60, only 34 per cent are women and only 1.7 per cent are from minority ethnic backgrounds.

The campaign, launched today, aims to recruit people with a range of life experiences that are representative of Scotland’s local communities.

Justice Secretary Kenny MacAskill said: “Justices of the Peace play an important part in our criminal justice system, dealing with many of the types of crimes that impact most on our communities.

“It is only right that our justice system reflects our multicultural society and that is why we want to see people from all walks of life and backgrounds becoming JPs.”

For further information, log on to www.jpscotland.gov.uk