A couple in Bromley have been hailed by their local Member of Parliament for initiating a major change in Britain’s criminal justice system. Having just turned 70 and 71 themselves, they first wrote to Bob Neill in October 2012, questioning why people over the age of 70 were not eligible to sit as jurors.
Mr Neill took this matter up with the Ministry of Justice, who replied in December stating that the Government had ‘no plans’ to change the age limits at that time. Undeterred by this, Mr Neill secured a meeting with the Lord Chancellor, who accepted that it was hard to fault the logic of his constituents and that the current law – last amended in 1988 - did not take into account the increases to life expectancy in recent decades.
As a result of today’s announcement, people up to the age of 75 will soon be able to sit as jurors in England and Wales. The plans will be brought forward via primary legislation early next year.
Importantly, the Juries Act 1974 still provides for discretionary excusal, where it can be shown that there is good reason why someone should be excused from attending.
Commenting on today’s announcement, Bob Neill said:
“Today’s announcement is a real victory for common sense thinking. There is no good reason why perfectly healthy and active 71 year olds are deemed unfit for jury service and I think we can all agree that our justice system will be all the better for having more knowledge and experience in the box.
“It is also a victory for the local couple who first wrote to me in October last year. I was able to discuss their representation directly with the Lord Chancellor, who in turn has agreed to drive through this change in the law next year.”
-ends-
Notes to the editor
· The policy announcement can be found here: https://www.gov.uk/government/news/upper-age-limit-for-jury-service-to-be-raised
· Each year, about 178,000 people in England and Wales undertake jury service. The Juries Act 1974 states that only those between the ages of 18 and 70 may be summoned to carry out jury service in England and Wales. This age range was last amended by the Criminal Justice Act 1988, which raised the upper limit from 65 to 70.