UK Magistrates' Sentencing Powers Extended to Tackle Prison Crisis

Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood announces increased powers for magistrates to help reduce court backlogs and remand prisoner numbers.

Magistrates in the UK will be able to sentence offenders to up to 12 months in prison, doubling the current maximum of six months.
The change aims to decrease the number of cases that need to be handled by crown courts, addressing a record backlog of 65,000 cases.
The decision is part of a strategy to manage the remand population, which currently stands at a 50-year high with 17,000 prisoners awaiting trial.
Critics, including the Criminal Bar Association, argue that the move could exacerbate prison overcrowding instead of alleviating it.
The new powers are set to be introduced in Parliament on October 28 and come into effect on November 18, 2024.