>>2705117 (LB)

People with criminal records urged to become magistrates

More people with criminal records should be hired as magistrates to boost diversity and falling numbers of people in the profession, it has been suggested.

"But we want to increase diversity, and if we did say anyone who's ever done anything wrong ever isn't going to be appointed that's no way at all to increase diversity."

Mr Bache said: "I wouldn't want [candidates] to think that because they've got a relatively minor criminal record some years ago that they're not going to be accepted as a magistrate, because that would be completely erroneous.

Magistrate candidates are expected to be "mature, understand people and have a sense of fairness", according to guidance on the government's website.

It also states those who had been found guilty of a serious crime or guilty of a number of minor offences would be unlikely to be considered for a post.

>Should it be notable?

My instinct is no; it's just an op ed, but less related things are making notables all the time, so...