PUBLISH AND BE NOT DAMNED

Justices of the Peace are notoriously reticent about criticising their own bench and its officers or the magistracy in general.  Even in a closed environment eg the retiring room I had often thought that some colleagues were afraid to speak their minds in case critical comments reached hostile ears.  I had and have some sympathy with this reluctance to be able to speak freely and frankly without fear or favour.  Certainly bench meetings are circumscribed by the agenda, bench chairmen rarely deviating from official policies and the presence of senior civil servants; namely the regional justices` clerk. With recent upheavals and the possibility of more to come in the operation of magistrates` courts and the consequences for witnesses and defendants   I  invite ex colleagues to submit such information and comments to which they would be fearful to have their names attached and they will be published here with anonymity assured the content of course not being abusive or libellous.