A number of people appear to be dodging their civic duty.

The Spinoff reports about a third of people summoned for jury service last year didn't respond to their summons or turn up to court.

It's the highest rate recorded in the past five years.

Chief Victims Advisor Ruth Money told Andrew Dickens that those people would want someone to step up for them if they were accused of a crime.

She says it's incredibly important to show up to jury service, and equally, to see the harm being caused in the community. 

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