Local magistrates, councillors, police and council officers have gathered to jointly mark the 650th anniversary of the office of the Justice of the Peace.
The group was invited to a special event in the chamber of Bridgend County Borough Council to hear a presentation on the historic JP office which dates back to 1361 and the reign of King Edward III.
BCBC Leader Councillor Mel Nott, who has been a local magistrate for 22 years, said: “Although the system of administering justice has evolved over the last 650 years, the principles on which it was founded remains; we are each committed to creating a fairer, safer and more just society in which people can live and work.
“I have been a magistrate for more than 20 years now and I still regard it as a great honour to serve the community of Bridgend in this way. Each day we share the experiences of both victims and perpetrators and no two cases are ever the same. There is always a human story behind each case and I am frequently moved by the circumstances which have brought people before us.”
He added: “I also see the great partnership role offered by councils like Bridgend to that of the magistrate. Many aspects of BCBC’s own preventative work, such as that we undertake with many families, in our Community Safety Partnership and CCTV, in our Public Protection Department and in our Youth Offending Service, all complement the work of the justice system.
“I’d like to thank all my fellow magistrates and our important partners in the council, in the police and in the community for the work they do.”
