"As Sir Brian has made clear, investment is not enough. The caseload is projected to reach 100,000 by 2028 and without fundamental change, could keep rising, meaning justice will be denied to more victims, and trust in the system will collapse. Mr Speaker, to avoid that disaster, I will follow Sir Brian's bold blueprint for change."
"Defendants will no longer have the option to choose to have their cases heard before a jury, the justice secretary told the Commons. Magistrates' powers will be extended from dealing with maximum sentences of one year to at least 18 months, he said, and a new judge-led court will be established."
"The government has said: Jury trials will be reserved for cases in indictable-only offences such as murder and rape and either-way offences with a likely sentence of more than three years in prison. Defendants in either-way offences with likely sentences of three years or less will no longer be able to choose a jury trial."
Jury trials will be limited to indictable-only offences such as murder and rape and to either-way offences likely to attract more than three years in prison. Defendants in either-way offences with likely sentences of three years or less will no longer be able to elect a jury trial. Magistrates’ sentencing powers will rise from one year to at least 18 months, with potential extension to 24 months. A new tier of judge-only swift courts will be created to hear cases without juries. The reforms would divert many offences—including burglary, theft, fraud, sexual assault, stalking, indecent images, drug dealing and criminal damage up to £10,000—away from juries amid a projected caseload of 100,000 by 2028.
Read at www.theguardian.com
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