SOUTH Lakeland is suffering a shortage of magistrates and the problem could become serious, according to a judicial advisory group.

Keith Coxon, who sits on Cumbria’s South West division of the Lord Chancellor’s advisory committee, said: “We’re short of quite a number of men magistrates, in particular of the younger age group.” Around 50 magistrates normally serve the area but that number is short by up to seven. Mr Coxon said: “If it was to continue at this rate, we would have a serious problem.” Mr Coxon, who advises on magistrate selection in the area, said he particularly wanted young, working men to come forward.

Kendal magistrate David Fawcett echoed his views that there was a need to redress the balance of magistrates and local people’s ages, ethnic groups and occupations. He said: “Magistrates should be a cross-section of the community. Magistrates live in the local area, they know the local area and they know the local issues.” Mr Fawcett said being a magistrate gave him the chance to use his brain in a different way and put something back into the community.

He identified the key skills as: common sense, listening, not being judgemental, and teamwork.

After the closures of Appleby and Windermere magistrates courtsin the last two years, he said at worst Kendalians might have to travel to Barrow if the Kendal court was to close due to a shortage of magistrates.

However, Mr Coxon said this was very unlikely as mag-istrates could be brought in from other areas , if necessary.