Ministers to give magistrates more sentencing powers
Briefly

"The plan was first tried by the former Conservative government before being scrapped as jails filled, but Labour says its version will work long-term."
"Justice Secretary Shabana Mahmood told MPs that it will ultimately help slash the record number of suspects being held waiting a trial."
"More serious cases were left for judges in crown courts. But there is a backlog of around 68,000 cases in those higher courts and a record 17,000 suspects on remand waiting for a trial."
"Ms Mahmood told MPs that while the early release scheme was now working as planned, there was still an acute problem in jails holding too many remand prisoners."
Read at www.bbc.com
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