Criminals escaping justice as victims drop court cases due to delays, watchdog warns
4 years ago

Criminals escaping justice as victims drop court cases due to delays, watchdog warns

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Dame Vera said that delays also meant victims had less support from increasingly stretched independent sexual violence and domestic abuse advisers, Victim Support and police witness care units. They are being re-victimised by extended delays.” Dame Vera called for the increased use of a law allowing victims to record evidence in advance of hearings, meaning they do not have to attend court in person and are less likely to withdraw support from prosecutions if the trial is delayed. We could take a huge chunk of those offences and people and deal with them effectively out of court.” Jodie Blackstock, legal director of the Justice charity, called for the government to look at the possibility of full remote jury trials to stop social distancing requirements cutting court capacity. “£450m is being invested to deliver speedier justice and this is already having an impact – outstanding magistrates’ cases have fallen by 50,000 since last summer and cases dealt with in the crown court reached pre-Covid levels in December.

Justice Court Victims Cases Courts Court Cases Crown Crown Court Dame Vera Magistrates Criminals Escaping  vera  justice  free  support  magistrates  drop  cases  court  delays  courts  watchdog  crown  criminals  escaping  warns  victims

History of this topic

UK police able to solve only one in 10 cases of violent and sexual crimes: Report
2 months, 2 weeks ago

UK police able to solve only one in 10 cases of violent and sexual crimes: Report

Firstpost  

Data from the Crown Prosecution Service shows that the number of alleged rape victims withdrawing from prosecutions before trial has more than doubled in the past five years. Fewer than one in 10 cases involving the most severe violent and sexual offences were resolved in hundreds of crime hotspots across England and Wales in 2024, British media reported on Monday. …

Right to jury trial under threat as Leveson asked to carry out ‘once in generation’ review of courts
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Right to jury trial under threat as Leveson asked to carry out ‘once in generation’ review of courts

The Independent  

Sign up for the View from Westminster email for expert analysis straight to your inbox Get our free View from Westminster email Get our free View from Westminster email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sir Brian Leveson is to lead a “once in a generation” …

Minister hints jury trials WILL be scrapped for some Crown Court cases to help deal with massive backlog
3 months, 2 weeks ago

Minister hints jury trials WILL be scrapped for some Crown Court cases to help deal with massive backlog

Daily Mail  

The Justice Secretary has hinted that jury trials will be scrapped for some Crown Court cases. Offenders facing charges that attract sentences of up to two years - such as assault of a police officer or racially aggravated criminal damage - could go to an 'intermediate' court. Shabana Mahmood suggested an announcement will be made 'imminently' as the government scrambles …

Magistrates urged to delay locking up criminals in a bid to ease overcrowding
7 months ago

Magistrates urged to delay locking up criminals in a bid to ease overcrowding

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The Times reported Lord Justice Nicholas Green, who sits on the Court of Appeal …

Criminal suspects will be freed on bail instead of being remanded in custody because the Ministry of Justice is running out of prison spaces, senior lawyers fear
10 months, 1 week ago

Criminal suspects will be freed on bail instead of being remanded in custody because the Ministry of Justice is running out of prison spaces, senior lawyers fear

Daily Mail  

Criminal suspects will be freed on bail rather than being placed in custody because the prisons are full, senior lawyers have warned. The Law society said delays in court hearings ordered by the Ministry of Justice to ease prison overcrowding would mean some suspects would be given bail rather than remanded in custody, the Telegraph reported. The overcrowding crisis has …

Criminals gaming the justice system as cases jammed for years in court backlog
1 year, 1 month ago

Criminals gaming the justice system as cases jammed for years in court backlog

The Independent  

Sign up for the Independent Women email for the latest news, opinion and features Get the Independent Women email for free Get the Independent Women email for free SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. My concern is of a complete collapse in public confidence in the system.” Fewer suspects pleading …

Lawless Britain? How police have failed to solve over HALF of all shoplifting cases in the past five years, with more than 200k going unsolved in 2023 - around 560 a DAY
1 year, 3 months ago

Lawless Britain? How police have failed to solve over HALF of all shoplifting cases in the past five years, with more than 200k going unsolved in 2023 - around 560 a DAY

Daily Mail  

Police failed to solve more than half of shoplifting cases in the past year, new data revealed today. But despite a fall in overall cases - there was a low of 241,603 in 2020-21 during the Covid pandemic, when many shops were closed - the proportion of unsolved cases has continued to rise, peaking at 57 per cent last year, …

Prison sentences under a year to be scrapped for most criminals
1 year, 5 months ago

Prison sentences under a year to be scrapped for most criminals

The Telegraph  

Prison sentences of less than a year will be scrapped for most criminals under government plans to tackle the prison overcrowding crisis. Alex Chalk, the Justice Secretary, announced on Monday there will be a new legal presumption that offenders facing jail sentences of under 12 months will instead be “punished” in the community by doing unpaid work such as “cleaning …

‘Inevitable’ prison spaces will run out as judges ‘delay sentencings’ to avoid overwhelming system
1 year, 5 months ago

‘Inevitable’ prison spaces will run out as judges ‘delay sentencings’ to avoid overwhelming system

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. But the Prison Governors Association told The Independent it believed “without a shadow of …

Rape suspects released on bail as not enough solicitors to represent them
1 year, 5 months ago

Rape suspects released on bail as not enough solicitors to represent them

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sir Bob Neill, senior Tory MP and chair of the …

Crown court backlog hits new record high with more than 64,000 cases waiting
1 year, 6 months ago

Crown court backlog hits new record high with more than 64,000 cases waiting

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “The terrible backlogs in our criminal courts continue to spiral out of control,” said …

Magistrates’ sentencing powers cut back down to 6 months
2 years ago

Magistrates’ sentencing powers cut back down to 6 months

The Telegraph  

Magistrates are to lose their power to jail offenders for up to a year and will be pushed back to maximum sentences of only six months after the Ministry of Justice ended a scheme designed to speed up justice. But the MoJ quietly laid out new regulations on Thursday which will peg magistrates back to a maximum of six months …

Burglary victims drop more prosecutions as confidence in justice wanes
2 years, 1 month ago

Burglary victims drop more prosecutions as confidence in justice wanes

The Telegraph  

It comes after it emerged that just 5.4 per cent of the 5.4 million crimes recorded in England and Wales last year ended up before a judge. “You do kind of cut back the notion that we’re living in a civilised society where criminals are deterred, where property is safe, where you don’t have to worry about coming under attack.” …

Delayed cases in one London court double that of the whole of Wales, figures show
2 years, 2 months ago

Delayed cases in one London court double that of the whole of Wales, figures show

The Telegraph  

A single court in London has a backlog of delayed cases almost double that of the whole of Wales, forcing victims to wait more than 300 days on average for their case to come to trial. Ministry of Justice data published on Thursday show crown court backlogs in England and Wales hit a record high of 62,766 waiting for trial, …

‘Overwhelmed’ justice system failing victims of crime, CPS chief warns
2 years, 2 months ago

‘Overwhelmed’ justice system failing victims of crime, CPS chief warns

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The criminal justice system is “overloaded”, with a shortage of …

Record levels of violent and sex crime cases in courts backlog for over a year
2 years, 5 months ago

Record levels of violent and sex crime cases in courts backlog for over a year

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Long waits for trial cause immense stress and misery …

Criminals try their luck by exploiting ‘scandalous’ trial backlogs to evade justice
2 years, 5 months ago

Criminals try their luck by exploiting ‘scandalous’ trial backlogs to evade justice

The Telegraph  

Criminals accused of serious offences are opting for crown court trials in the hope victims and witnesses will drop out due to case delays, Britain’s most senior magistrate has warned. “Defendants definitely understand that there are delays in the crown courts because more of them are electing, recognising they may very well not go to trial till 2024 “If you …

Stop barristers’ strike or defendants must be released from prison, High Court rules
2 years, 5 months ago

Stop barristers’ strike or defendants must be released from prison, High Court rules

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Dame Victoria Sharp KC, president of the King’s Bench Division, and Mr Justice Chamberlain …

Slow wheels of justice
2 years, 7 months ago

Slow wheels of justice

The Hindu  

Published : Aug 26, 2022 15:45 IST For long the issue of delayed justice has been highlighted in the media and endlessly debated in civil forums. The National Judicial Data Grid displays case dashboards on its website that give a thorough breakdown of the situation, with separate portals for District and High Courts, and provide a broader picture of how …

Criminal courts face disruption as barristers strike for second week
2 years, 8 months ago

Criminal courts face disruption as barristers strike for second week

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Speaking to LBC News, CBA chairman Jo Sidhu QC said: “We’ve had continuing discussions …

Magistrates’ sentencing powers doubled in bid to tackle courts backlog
2 years, 10 months ago

Magistrates’ sentencing powers doubled in bid to tackle courts backlog

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Magistrates to be given power to jail offenders for up to a year to help clear court delays
3 years, 2 months ago

Magistrates to be given power to jail offenders for up to a year to help clear court delays

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Defendants will still have the right to demand an “either way” case to be …

Lord Chief Justice warns government over ‘value of the rule of law’ in courts funding plea
3 years, 4 months ago

Lord Chief Justice warns government over ‘value of the rule of law’ in courts funding plea

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. In his annual report, published on Friday, Lord Burnett of Maldon warned that the …

Government cuts caused rising court backlogs even before pandemic, report finds
3 years, 5 months ago

Government cuts caused rising court backlogs even before pandemic, report finds

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Court backlogs were rising before the coronavirus pandemic because of …

Crown court backlog hits record high of 60,000 cases as victims wait years for justice
3 years, 9 months ago

Crown court backlog hits record high of 60,000 cases as victims wait years for justice

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The backlog of crown court cases in England and Wales …

Court backlogs having ‘major consequences for victims’, watchdog says as trials scheduled in 2023
4 years ago

Court backlogs having ‘major consequences for victims’, watchdog says as trials scheduled in 2023

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Court backlogs are having “major consequences for victims and witnesses”, …

Britain is set for SIXTY Nightingale courts: £113m boost will see swifter justice for crime victims
4 years, 1 month ago

Britain is set for SIXTY Nightingale courts: £113m boost will see swifter justice for crime victims

Daily Mail  

Fourteen new 'Nightingale courts' are set to open as part of a £113million investment to upgrade hotels and event spaces to tackle a backlog of nearly 500,000 unheard cases. Today's announcement by Justice Secretary Robert Buckland will see the total number of emergency courtrooms expanded to 60 by the end of March Speaking to the Mail, Mr Buckland hailed the …

Criminal prosecutions plunge by almost 60% in the three months to June due to Covid pandemic
4 years, 4 months ago

Criminal prosecutions plunge by almost 60% in the three months to June due to Covid pandemic

Daily Mail  

Criminal prosecutions in England and Wales plunged by almost 60% in three months as restrictions imposed to tackle the Covid-19 pandemic hit the justice system, figures suggest. Both prosecutions and convictions were down 18% in the 12 months to June 2020, compared to the previous year, according to Ministry of Justice statistics. Criminal prosecutions have fallen by almost 60% since …

Criminal case backlog rises by one-third to 170,000 during coronavirus lockdown
4 years, 5 months ago

Criminal case backlog rises by one-third to 170,000 during coronavirus lockdown

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “However, our rapid adoption of technology during lockdown meant …

Risk of vigilante attacks rising as victims wait for justice amid coronavirus delays
4 years, 7 months ago

Risk of vigilante attacks rising as victims wait for justice amid coronavirus delays

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Vigilantes “will take matters into their own hands” if trust …

Court backlog rockets to more than half a million cases in England and Wales during coronavirus
4 years, 9 months ago

Court backlog rockets to more than half a million cases in England and Wales during coronavirus

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. “I worry that we may see a high proportion of victims dropping out as …

Coronavirus: Lord Chief Justice urges government to act on court backlogs and underfunding
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus: Lord Chief Justice urges government to act on court backlogs and underfunding

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Lord Burnett said that using the figures for 2018-19, it was “not a bad …

Coronavirus: Jury trials to resume next week in England and Wales under social distancing rules
4 years, 10 months ago

Coronavirus: Jury trials to resume next week in England and Wales under social distancing rules

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. The lord chief justice said a small number of new trials would start next …

Only 7 per cent of crimes prosecuted in England and Wales as figure hits record low
4 years, 11 months ago

Only 7 per cent of crimes prosecuted in England and Wales as figure hits record low

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The number of crimes prosecuted …

Victims, attorneys want courts to handle more cases; thousands delayed by Covid-19
4 years, 11 months ago

Victims, attorneys want courts to handle more cases; thousands delayed by Covid-19

NL Times  

Despite the coronavirus crisis, courts urgently need to handle more criminal cases, according to defense lawyers, the Bar Association, and victims. "Postponing cases will only increase the already long lead times," spokesperson Jytte Reichert said to NOS. On March 6th, shortly before the coronavirus really became a crisis in the Netherlands, the Public Prosecution Service reported that some 23 thousand …

Coronavirus sends justice system into 'meltdown' as criminal court case backlog passes 37,000
4 years, 11 months ago

Coronavirus sends justice system into 'meltdown' as criminal court case backlog passes 37,000

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The criminal justice system is going into “meltdown” because of …

Justice system 'may not cope' with impact of Boris Johnson's 20,000 extra police officers, MPs warn
5 years, 4 months ago

Justice system 'may not cope' with impact of Boris Johnson's 20,000 extra police officers, MPs warn

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The justice system may be unable to cope with the …

‘The British public are at risk’: Court trials hit record low in England and Wales as government warned ‘criminals free to walk streets’
5 years, 6 months ago

‘The British public are at risk’: Court trials hit record low in England and Wales as government warned ‘criminals free to walk streets’

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. It needs investment in the entire system.” Boris Johnson …

Half of magistrates’ courts in England and Wales closed since 2010 amid justice ‘crisis’
6 years, 1 month ago

Half of magistrates’ courts in England and Wales closed since 2010 amid justice ‘crisis’

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Half of all magistrates' courts in England and Wales have …

Fast-track courts unable to deal with New Year offenders
6 years, 2 months ago

Fast-track courts unable to deal with New Year offenders

Dutch News  

The fast-track court procedure set up to deal with public order offenders is hardly being used for New Year incidents, the prosecution service has admitted. A total of 328 people were arrested during the night of New Year’s Eve, traditionally one of the busiest times of year for the emergency services. The procedure was designed to reduce the caseload resulting …

Fast-track courts unable to deal with New Year offenders
6 years, 2 months ago

Fast-track courts unable to deal with New Year offenders

Dutch News  

The fast-track court procedure set up to deal with public order offenders is hardly being used for New Year incidents, the prosecution service has admitted. A total of 328 people were arrested during the night of New Year’s Eve, traditionally one of the busiest times of year for the emergency services. The procedure was designed to reduce the caseload resulting …

Judges have been handing criminals unlawful sentences 'leading to significant injustice', report finds
6 years, 4 months ago

Judges have been handing criminals unlawful sentences 'leading to significant injustice', report finds

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Judges have been handing criminals …

Dutch public prosecutors and courts deal with fewer cases
7 years, 6 months ago

Dutch public prosecutors and courts deal with fewer cases

Dutch News  

The Dutch public prosecution department is taking fewer cases to court and the courts themselves are also dealing with fewer cases than they did 10 years ago, the national statistics office CBS said on Monday. The number of criminal prosecutions which made it to court also fell by 28% last year, compared with 2007, the CBS said. The CBS said …

Dutch public prosecutors and courts deal with fewer cases
7 years, 6 months ago

Dutch public prosecutors and courts deal with fewer cases

Dutch News  

The Dutch public prosecution department is taking fewer cases to court and the courts themselves are also dealing with fewer cases than they did 10 years ago, the national statistics office CBS said on Monday. The number of criminal prosecutions which made it to court also fell by 28% last year, compared with 2007, the CBS said. The CBS said …

Cuts have left court system ‘close to breaking point’ and have put its credibility at risk, MPs warn
8 years, 10 months ago

Cuts have left court system ‘close to breaking point’ and have put its credibility at risk, MPs warn

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy The court system in England and Wales is “close to …

More than 13,000 criminals on the run after skipping court bail for offences including rape and murder
8 years, 10 months ago

More than 13,000 criminals on the run after skipping court bail for offences including rape and murder

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy More than 13,000 suspected and …

As a magistrate I would like to thank Michael Gove for dropping the criminal court charges
9 years, 3 months ago

As a magistrate I would like to thank Michael Gove for dropping the criminal court charges

The Independent  

The best of Voices delivered to your inbox every week - from controversial columns to expert analysis Sign up for our free weekly Voices newsletter for expert opinion and columns Sign up to our free weekly Voices newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy At the …

Court fees are a breach of human rights, says leading criminologist
9 years, 6 months ago

Court fees are a breach of human rights, says leading criminologist

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy A government researcher and leading criminologist has spoken out against …

Criminal courts charge: Mass resignations amid judicial revolt against 'extremely unfair' fees
9 years, 6 months ago

Criminal courts charge: Mass resignations amid judicial revolt against 'extremely unfair' fees

The Independent  

Get the free Morning Headlines email for news from our reporters across the world Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email Sign up to our free Morning Headlines email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. A Crown Court judge and Britain’s most senior criminal barrister have now joined those …

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