header-logo header-logo

Justice inspectorates sound warning

20 May 2022
Issue: 7979 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal
printer mail-detail
The four HM Chief Inspectors of police, Criminal Prosecution Service, probation and prison services have issued a devastating warning on the ‘knock-on effect’ of the courts backlog

In a foreword to their joint report, published this week, ‘The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the criminal justice system’, the chief inspectors said the justice system ‘continues to operate at unacceptable levels’. They said the average a case has been outstanding by the time a Crown Court trial begins is 282 days, which ‘has a damaging impact on justice itself’.

‘The burden on police, the CPS and court staff of the live caseloads and backlogs in the courts is immense. Ensuring, over extended periods, that cases are and stay ready for trial, that serious or complex cases and custody cases are prioritised, and that victims and witnesses are kept on board is very challenging.’

In non-London areas, the ‘availability of external advocates is a real issue… the pandemic resulted in barristers leaving the self-employed Bar and even as things return to normal, many have not returned’, the report said.

Law Society president I Stephanie Boyce said: ‘It is particularly compelling to see the four HM Chief Inspectors—who have no vested interest when it comes to defence practitioners—echoing our concerns about the urgent need for investment in defence practice if there is to be any prospect of clearing the court backlogs.

‘Sustained investment is needed across the criminal justice system and, as the report points out, the plan must be coordinated for the system to recover.’

Official figures for March show a drop in the backlog of 500 cases to 57,838 outstanding cases in the Crown Court.

Professor Chris Bones, chair of CILEX, said: ‘Allowing prosecutors who trained via the CILEX route to become Crown Prosecutors would help alleviate these pressures.’

View the full report here.
Issue: 7979 / Categories: Legal News , Profession , Criminal
printer mail-details

MOVERS & SHAKERS

Birketts—trainee cohort

Birketts—trainee cohort

Firm welcomes new cohort of 29 trainee solicitors for 2025

Keoghs—four appointments

Keoghs—four appointments

Four partner hires expand legal expertise in Scotland and Northern Ireland

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Brabners—Ben Lamb

Real estate team in Yorkshire welcomes new partner

NEWS
Robert Taylor of 360 Law Services warns in this week's NLJ that adoption of artificial intelligence (AI) risks entrenching disadvantage for SME law firms, unless tools are tailored to their needs
The Court of Protection has ruled in Macpherson v Sunderland City Council that capacity must be presumed unless clearly rebutted. In this week's NLJ, Sam Karim KC and Sophie Hurst of Kings Chambers dissect the judgment and set out practical guidance for advisers faced with issues relating to retrospective capacity and/or assessments without an examination
Delays and dysfunction continue to mount in the county court, as revealed in a scathing Justice Committee report and under discussion this week by NLJ columnist Professor Dominic Regan of City Law School. Bulk claims—especially from private parking firms—are overwhelming the system, with 8,000 cases filed weekly
Charles Pigott of Mills & Reeve charts the turbulent progress of the Employment Rights Bill through the House of Lords, in this week's NLJ
From oligarchs to cosmetic clinics, strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs) target journalists, activists and ordinary citizens with intimidating legal tactics. Writing in NLJ this week, Sadie Whittam of Lancaster University explores the weaponisation of litigation to silence critics
back-to-top-scroll