UK Government Proposes Doubling Magistrates' Sentencing Powers

The move aims to reduce court backlogs and remand prisoner numbers but faces criticism over potential prison overcrowding.

The proposal would allow magistrates in England and Wales to impose custodial sentences of up to 12 months, doubling the current maximum of six months.
The government believes this change could help alleviate the backlog in crown courts and reduce the number of prisoners on remand, which reached a record 17,000 in June.
Critics, including the Criminal Bar Association, argue that the plan is a 'knee-jerk reaction' that could worsen prison overcrowding by increasing the number of sentenced prisoners.
The Ministry of Justice has already implemented an early release scheme, freeing prisoners who have served 40% of their sentence to address overcrowding, with another batch set for release in October.
Supporters, like the Magistrates' Association, claim the proposal could speed up justice but stress the need for additional court resources to handle the increased caseload effectively.