Oldham schoolchildren battle it out in court!

The Magistrates, who were played by the children and accompanied by a member of the Greater Manchester bench, decided on the verdict at the end of the Mock Trial

Ten Primary schools from across Oldham and Tameside arrived at Tameside Magistrates Court to compete in the Greater Manchester Magistrates Association Year 6 Mock Trial competition.

Each school was allocated to represent either the prosecution or defence and battle it out in a scripted trial to secure a verdict for their team.

The trial was a fictitious yet very topical case. 

It was a youth charged with online cyberbullying where it was alleged they used abusive and threatening words and behaviour over several weeks with intent to cause serious alarm and distress to another student in their class. 

The Magistrates, who were played by the children and accompanied by a member of the Greater Manchester bench, decided on the verdict at the end of the Mock Trial. 

Marks were awarded for communication, confidence in delivery, knowledge of their role and court process, 

The two winning schools will secure a place in the Greater Manchester final of the mock trial competition to be held in June at Helmsley House in Salford.

The Greater Manchester Magistrates in the Community team offer interactive talks to schools, colleges and community groups across Greater Manchester to explain how the Criminal Justice System works and a range of choices and consequences workshops in topical areas such as knife crime, cyberbullying and drug use.

For more information they can be contacted at: www.gmma-mic.net or via Twitter/X @GMMA_MIC

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