Perhaps nowhere is the ingrained class structure of our society more clearly seen than in the administration of justice.

This is apparent in your report on the political and class composition of our benches of magistrates which the government survey of magistrates' political affiliation reveals (The Argus, July 7).

We now know that 35 per cent of Sussex magistrates are Tory, a party which draws a significant support from the upper and middle classes and hardly any from ethnic groups.

Justice should always be tempered with mercy and this is more difficult when one's ethnic background and social factors act as a barrier.

The Government is now planning to improve the social mix of magistrates with better guidance on selection which is long overdue.

The problem, however, lies in the composition of the selection committees. These should first be reconstituted before non-Tories from lower social groups and ethnic members can be selected.

If they are wondering where they may look for a better social mix, they might look at the pool of numerous former councillors who for a number of years immersed themselves in the social and economic problems of the people.

Perhaps social change has never been so rapid as it is at the moment. It is time these changes should reflect themselves in the administration of justice.

Who knows? It might help to reduce the degree of overcrowding in our prisons.

-RG Jenkins, Hove