"The argument of the government and the retired judge Brian Leveson, who was commissioned to come up with proposals to reform the justice system, is that a record backlog in the courts is failing victims, witnesses and defendants. There are currently almost 80,000 cases waiting to be completed in the crown courts and Lammy has warned that the figure will rise to more than 100,000 without radical reform."
"It is a common refrain that justice delayed is justice denied, and the waiting times have led to victims and witnesses increasingly deciding not to participate in trials. The quality of evidence they give can also be affected. Some people charged with serious crimes are being given trial dates in 2029 or 2030. In the meantime, they could be held in jail awaiting trial, only to be later acquitted."
David Lammy announced plans to move thousands of trials in England and Wales from juries to judges and magistrates to address a record court backlog. The government and retired judge Brian Leveson say nearly 80,000 crown court cases are waiting, rising beyond 100,000 without reform. Long waits are causing victims and witnesses to withdraw or give lower-quality evidence. Some defendants have trial dates in 2029 or 2030 and may be remanded in custody only to be acquitted later. Proposals guarantee jury trials for almost all indictable offences while introducing judge-only trials for shorter sentences and particularly technical or lengthy fraud and financial cases, with concerns especially raised about impacts on rape cases and victims.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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