It has felt like an important and inspiring collective endeavour.
Courtwatcher
Have you been inside your local magistrates’ court? A visible symbol of the justice system in the midst of our communities, magistrates’ courts are essential public spaces where almost all (95%) of criminal court cases start and end.
Despite their importance, local communities are almost completely divorced from their courts. Many people do not know where their nearest magistrates’ court is, and they have no ownership of, or involvement in, courts except occasionally as users. Like libraries, magistrates’ courts are open to the public. But few people know this, and court hearings are rarely observed or seen as a community space.
Transform Justice is changing this through its mass court observation programme, where citizen volunteers – courtwatchers – observe the daily hearings in court and report what they see. Courtwatchers collect real-time data on what happens in court, becoming the eyes and ears of accountability in the courtroom and ultimately leading to improvements in this vital but under-observed community space.
Our first year of CourtWatch London saw us recruit over 80 citizen volunteers who observed and reported on 1,100 magistrates’ courts hearings. Their observations and reflections are summarised in three groundbreaking reports on the openness of our courts, the treatment of defendants, and the judgements meted out.
This year we are expanding the project to all London magistrates’ courts (fifteen in total). Any adult Londoner can sign up to observe and you can visit on your schedule – apart from Sunday when the courts are closed! Volunteer observers will receive training in what a magistrates’ court is like, what to look out for and how to report what they have seen. The real-time data and stories volunteers collect will shine a spotlight on what really happens in our local courts, expose shortfalls and highlight systemic injustices.
Join a growing network of volunteers dedicated to making justice more transparent. Whether you’re looking to contribute to meaningful change or simply want to learn more about the legal system, courtwatching is for you. No experience is needed – just a passion for justice. Click here or email [email protected] to sign up.
The CourtWatch London project will cover all London magistrates’ courts including:
