Rather than simply resolving a case and sentencing the offender, they preside over teams that include prosecutors and defence lawyers, police, treatment and job-training counsellors and case workers.

But for scientists who are just trying to do their job a robust public-interest defence matters even more.

Turning such a choice into brigades, squadrons and naval task forces is the job of a second meeting, this time of the Ministry of Defence, expected at the weekend.