An autumn trial ‘blitz’ and more vaccinated magistrates on the bench are part of an 'ambitious' action plan to get the justice system back on track, the Gazette can reveal.
Victims of alleged crimes attending court will have the right not to see the defendant before or after their case under a new code that comes into force today.
Coronavirus has had a ‘devastating’ impact on courts and the effect of virtual hearings is still ‘fundamentally unclear’, an influential Lords committee has found.
Hundreds of crumbling courts and tribunals have outstanding repair jobs, new figures have revealed, as officials deal with thousands of new requests every month.
Tougher sentences and more police officers will not combat ‘decades of underfunding and mounting backlogs’, lawyers have said in response to the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill.
A report by three major justice bodies published today has raised major concerns about the impact of remote legal assistance on suspects in police custody.
Black people are nine times more likely than white people to be stopped and searched, according to a report published today by the inspectorate of constabulary, which says police forces still cannot fully explain why the controversial power is being used disproportionately.
Lawyers' leaders have criticised Rishi Sunak for ‘turning a blind eye’ to the justice system with today’s Budget. Derek Sweeting QC said he was disappointed not to see the chancellor of the exchequer announce any extra funding to tackle the court backlog.
The youth courts have the same issues as the magistrates’ courts, but magnified,’ says criminal defence barrister Kirsty Day. ‘We’re not talking Wild West, but Wild Wild West.’
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