Five Bay of Plenty Justices of the Peace have been recognised for their long services to the community today.

If you were to combine JP's Amy Steele, Christopher Stocker, Arthur Thomas, Jim Wilson and Margaret Wilson's voluntary service to the community it would add up to a total of 194 years.

Five Bay of Plenty Justices of the Peace were recognised for their long services today. From left: Margaret Wilson (42 years), Amy Steel (30 years), Bay of Plenty Justice of the Peace Association president Tony Young, Tauranga MP Simon Bridges, Jim Wilson (37 years) and Arthur Thomas (41 years). Absent: Christopher Stocker (44 years). Photos: Bruce Barnard.

The five JP's were honoured by Bay of Plenty Justice of the Peace Association president Tony Young and Tauranga MP Simon Bridges during a formal ceremony held at the Lyceum Club this morning.

During the ceremony, Simon describes the JPs as 'heroes of the community” who were essential to maintaining the integrity of the justice system.

'The work you and many others do is incredibly important and I just want to thank you on behalf of the community for you long service,” he says.

'In fact, the majority of you have been JP's and serving the community for longer than I have been alive.”

In his role as Associate Justice Minister, Simon says every so often he has to make decisions to discipline and strike off JP's 'who've been naughty”.

'What that really shows me is that to be a JP and to continue in the role for a very long time, you have to have good judgement, be wise and need to be of stout character. All five of you have that in spades.”