Media students produce film of ‘Victorian’ magistrates court

Hopwood Hall College media students have produced a film celebrating 100 years of Youth Courts; a team of students recorded the drama and the exhibition as part of their Media Production course, using multi-camera techniques.

The Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood Magistrates Bench, through its ‘Magistrates in the Community Group’ organised a special ‘Victorian crime and punishment’ day at Rochdale Town Hall to celebrate 100 years of youth courts and approached Hopwood Hall College Media Department to produce and edit a video of the event.

The final cut is now ready for the official handover, which will take place in one of the courtrooms at Rochdale Magistrates Court on 19 May; Malcolm Bywater, Chairman of the Bench at Rochdale, Middleton and Heywood Magistrates and Andrew Marsland of Touchstones Arts and Heritage Centre will accept the film from the students. Media Tutor, Howard Holt, who has had a sneak preview of the film, is “extremely proud” of his students’ work.

The Children’s and Young Persons Act 1909 is one of the most significant laws for children and young people today. It formed the basis of the modern youth justice system in England and Wales, introduced youth courts, abolished the death penalty for children under 16, and made child neglect and abuse a criminal offence.

Last April, Rochdale Magistrates Court reopened the borough’s original criminal court (opened in 1871 in Rochdale town hall) for one day only to re-enact and re-live the crimes and punishments of Victorian times; with magistrates, court officers, police ‘peelers’, child and adult villains all dressed in the style of the day.

As part of the celebrations, a period courtroom drama was held in front of members of the public.