Should Magistrates Have a Formal Legal Background? The magistracy is one of the oldest social institutions within Great Britain. Magistrates’ courts have a history that stretches back over 800 years, ever since King’s courts were established where prominent people from local communities dispensed justice in the name of the King. Today, of course, the role of magistrates is an officially voluntary position. Anyone above the prescribed age and without any conflicts of interest can apply to become a magistrate. Magistrates …

Are the Tracks Lined with Gold for Train Drivers Abroad? For those who are fascinated by trains and enjoy driving, there is nothing better than a career in train driving. Train driving can be the perfect profession for those who enjoy the thrill of driving a large vehicle, do not mind solitude and would like the security of a reasonably well paying job. The demand for train drivers within the UK increased sharply once the railways were privatised. But given …

The Truth about UK Unemployment Figures Doctoring data is not a new concept in the world of politics. Many of those in power, whether they are political parties, or individuals have chosen to ‘tweak’ statistical data in their own favour as a means to gaining public support and approval. In the midst of crumbling high streets, run down warehouses and shrinking public services, there is a strangely contradictory phenomenon emerging – the government’s employment figures. Recent employment figures seem to …

Should Magistrates be Offered Far Harsher Sentencing Powers? Magistrates’ courts are one of the oldest judicial institutions in our country. The history of magistrates’ and community courts goes back a long way, and today, magistrates’ courts remain an important part of the British justice system. Just recently, magistrates sentencing powers were debated in Parliament, amid overall proposed reforms of the entire justice system. Magistrates are volunteers who do not receive a salary for their work. They are required to be …

NHS Structure Changes: How they Might Affect Paramedics The coalition government’s Health and Social Care Bill is one of the most controversial reforms it has undertaken to date. The changes brought into effect by the bill have changed the way key services within the NHS will work in the future. The bill seeks to tackle changing social circumstances like increased longevity, and the growing need for home care etc. As well as changing economic pressures. The coalition’s proposals were first …

 Are Firefighters Being Pushed too Far? The economic crisis seems to have spawned a surge in public spending cuts that many feel will cause long term damage to the fabric of society. Slashing social care spending, housing benefits, budget squeezes for key public services like healthcare and safety, caps on salaries for public jobs: all these actions are ultimately expected to save money. But will they end up causing irreparable damage to our society? Take the case of fire fighting – …

Is Self-employment Your Best Way Forward? It hit the news recently that the number of people opting for self-employment has been steadily rising ever since the beginning of the economic meltdown in 2008-09. According to recent data from the Office for National Statistics (ONS), there has been an over 10% rise in the number of people in self-employment since 2008, and 367,000 more people were found to be self-employed compared to numbers in 2008! The key bit of information here …

What Level of Pay Rise Should Paramedics Expect in 2013? We are living in financially turbulent times, an age which is characterised by harsh spending cuts and increasing inflation. NHS staff including paramedics, midwives, nurses and doctors has had to live with a pay freeze for the past two years. This pay freeze is finally set to end in April 2013, but will the coming financial year see any significant rise in pay? The National Health Service has seen unprecedented …

The Job Security of Working in Retail Not a week goes by without deflating news about the economy. Rising inflation, growing unemployment, companies going to the wall, cuts in public spending – stories like these are all too common these days, and they signify the tough times that most of us have to face. Empty high streets and last clearance sale signs are a shockingly common sight today, and we have seen several retail names like Jessops, HMV, and most …