Magistrates' Blog

‘Distressed’ police officer sacked for driving without insurance after row over young son: standard.co.uk/news/crime/btp… Career gone in a moment of madness.

Hat tip to @CambsCops chasing down suspected hare coursers the other day (Facebook): facebook.com/reel/311453105…

Judge rejects driver’s demand CPS lawyer pay him £10k: brightonandhovenews.org/2026/03/20/jud… Worth a try.

Living up to the jingle: youtube.com/watch?v=0DJIx0…

@Joseph1049503 Well spotted. Don't know quite how I missed that!

@MagistratesBlog Repealed?

Tailgating at football matches to become a criminal offence: bbc.co.uk/sport/football… Erm... pretty sure we already have legislation covering that.

"It will also be illegal to knowingly gain entry using forged tickets, passes or accreditation documents..." yeah, pretty sure that's already covered too.

This for a start: legislation.gov.uk/ukpga/1968/60/…

Armed with a Dyson vacuum cleaner, he terrorised a neighbourhood and told a dog to 'f*** off': lancs.live/news/lancashir… Other brands of vacuum are available.

Rape and domestic abuse victims will be tracked to prevent them ever coming into contact with their attackers under Britain’s biggest-ever expansion of tagging. Read more here ⤵️ telegraph.co.uk/news/2026/03/1…

In court: Northumberland masseur accused of string of sexual offences: bbc.co.uk/news/articles/…

@StuartFrazer @Lizevanslondon Too few prison spaces and the concern - a genuine concern - that shorter immediate custodial sentences often do more harm than good. Community requirements can still be attached to a suspended sentence order, as they can be now.

@MagistratesBlog @Lizevanslondon Thanks. This is presumably because there are insufficient prison places. Will there still be a form of punishment within the community in place of a prison sentence? I’m a big believer in good rehabilitation along with some form of punishment.

PC who binned mobile phone before arrest jailed: bbc.co.uk/news/articles/… Good. We don't need the likes of corrupt ex-PC Samarah Kamal on the beat.

@StuartFrazer @Lizevanslondon ... be in favour of suspending the sentence, unless there are specific reasons not to. In effect the rules are being turned on their head, so suspended sentences will become more the norm.

@StuartFrazer @Lizevanslondon The Sentencing Act 2026 comes into effect next week. Under the current regime if the custody threshold is passed, the court can only step back from that if there are grounds to suspend the sentence. Under the new regime if the custody threshold is passed, the presumption will...

@Lizevanslondon Yes, the presumption would have been in favour of suspending it.

@MagistratesBlog I believe this would have to be a suspended sentence after the new rules come in on 22nd March …?

Stricter Legislation to Protect Livestock from Dogs: magistrates.blogspot.com/2026/03/strict…

Moreton man admits burglary of Wirral house: wirralglobe.co.uk/news/25943707.… Burglars. Grrrrr.

Coventry man jailed after being trapped in shop he tried to rob: westmidlands.police.uk/news/west-midl… <sniggers>

Migrant who raped Welsh teenager wasn't deported to respect his 'right to family life': dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wal…