(This note is not part of the Order)
These Rules are made under the Courts Act 2003. They –
(a)replace, with some changes, the provisions for Bench Training and Development Committees (BTDCs) contained in the Justices of the Peace (Size and Chairmanship of Bench) Rules 2002 (SI 2002/193), and
(b)make provision for new committees called Magistrates' Area Training Committees (MATCs).
The previous rules on BTDCs lapse as a result of the repeal of the provisions of the Justices of the Peace Act 1997 under which they were made.
These Rules formally confer new functions on BTDCs of appraising the performance in court of justices, identifying their training needs, and reporting training needs in their area to MATCs.
MATCs, which will exist on a courts board area basis, will be required under these Rules to prepare an annual plan for justices' training needs on the basis of the information which BTDCs provide to them. They must also provide an annual report to the Lord Chancellor on the training activities that have taken place in their courts board areas under their training plan for the previous year.