Explanatory note

These Rules replace the Justices of the Peace (Training and Appraisal) Rules 2005.

The Rules re-enact the provisions relating to the establishment of Bench Training and Development Committees (“BTDCs”) and Magistrates’ Area Training Committees with minor changes consequential on the additional provisions referred to below.

The Rules provide for the establishment of Family Training and Development Committees (“FTDCs”), outside the Greater London area, on the direction of the Lord Chief Justice. In relation to the Greater London area, the rules provide that a FTDC will be established on the coming into force of the Rules. The FTDC will have similar training and appraisal functions, in relation to family justices, to that which the existing BTDCs have in relation to justices who sit in the adult court. Each FTDC will maintain a list of approved family court chairmen among the family justices assigned to its local justice area.

The Rules also provide for the establishment of the Inner London Youth Training and Development Committee which will have training and appraisal functions in relation to youth justices in the Inner London area. It will maintain a list of approved youth court chairmen among the youth justices assigned to the local justice areas within the Inner London area.

The Rules further confer on the relevant Committees power to authorise justices to sit in the type of court for which they are responsible in the local justice area for which they are established.

The BTDC will retain the functions mentioned above in relation to family justices where a FTDC not been established for its local justice area and in relation to youth justices if its local justice area is outside the Inner London area.