Swindon Crown Court backlog grows after barrister strikes
Jason Hughes
Sun, 5 February 2023
Swindon Crown Court had 253 outstanding cases at the end of September.
Jason Hughes
Sun, 5 February 2023
Swindon Crown Court had 253 outstanding cases at the end of September.
(Image: Newsquest)
SEVERAL trials were postponed at Swindon Crown Court as barristers went on strike, while the number of outstanding cases grew to 253.
The Law Society said the impact of years of budget cuts is "plain to see" in the latest figures, which reveal the backlog of crown court cases reached a new national high last summer.
Ministry of Justice figures show that seven of the 18 trials listed at Swindon crown court between July and September 2022 were 'ineffective' and had to be postponed.
This was up from two over the same period in 2019 and an increase from four in 2014.
Trials can be labelled ineffective due to the defence or prosecution not being ready, or witnesses being absent.
Across England and Wales, ineffective crown court trials rose to their highest rate on record between July and September. 56 percent were postponed, up from 31 per cent the previous quarter.
Just 25 percent of trials went ahead on their scheduled date over the period.
Criminal barristers in England and Wales were on strike between September and October after their action against the government's proposals for legal fees intensified.
The Ministry of Justice said a lack of defence barrister availability, due to the strikes, was behind the high level of ineffective trials in the latest quarter.
Different figures show that the number of outstanding crown court cases across England and Wales also grew to a record 62,770 at the end of September.
Lubna Shuja, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said: "The impact of decades of underinvestment in our criminal justice system is plain to see.
"The latest figures show huge backlogs in our criminal courts and unacceptably long delays for victims and defendants to access justice."
She claimed criminal defence solicitors are "leaving in their droves" after over two decades without a significant increase in legal aid rates.
“Unless the Government is willing to take the problem seriously, we will no longer have a criminal justice system worthy of the name," she said.
The MoJ claimed its latest figures indicate a slight reduction outstanding crown court cases between October and November.
A spokesperson said: "Whilst there was an increase in the crown court backlog during the barrister strikes, we have worked hard to reduce the caseload since.
"We are doing all we can to ensure courts are working at full capacity. Measures such as unlimited sitting days and increasing magistrates’ sentencing powers are helping restore the swift access to justice that victims deserve."
SEVERAL trials were postponed at Swindon Crown Court as barristers went on strike, while the number of outstanding cases grew to 253.
The Law Society said the impact of years of budget cuts is "plain to see" in the latest figures, which reveal the backlog of crown court cases reached a new national high last summer.
Ministry of Justice figures show that seven of the 18 trials listed at Swindon crown court between July and September 2022 were 'ineffective' and had to be postponed.
This was up from two over the same period in 2019 and an increase from four in 2014.
Trials can be labelled ineffective due to the defence or prosecution not being ready, or witnesses being absent.
Across England and Wales, ineffective crown court trials rose to their highest rate on record between July and September. 56 percent were postponed, up from 31 per cent the previous quarter.
Just 25 percent of trials went ahead on their scheduled date over the period.
Criminal barristers in England and Wales were on strike between September and October after their action against the government's proposals for legal fees intensified.
The Ministry of Justice said a lack of defence barrister availability, due to the strikes, was behind the high level of ineffective trials in the latest quarter.
Different figures show that the number of outstanding crown court cases across England and Wales also grew to a record 62,770 at the end of September.
Lubna Shuja, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, said: "The impact of decades of underinvestment in our criminal justice system is plain to see.
"The latest figures show huge backlogs in our criminal courts and unacceptably long delays for victims and defendants to access justice."
She claimed criminal defence solicitors are "leaving in their droves" after over two decades without a significant increase in legal aid rates.
“Unless the Government is willing to take the problem seriously, we will no longer have a criminal justice system worthy of the name," she said.
The MoJ claimed its latest figures indicate a slight reduction outstanding crown court cases between October and November.
A spokesperson said: "Whilst there was an increase in the crown court backlog during the barrister strikes, we have worked hard to reduce the caseload since.
"We are doing all we can to ensure courts are working at full capacity. Measures such as unlimited sitting days and increasing magistrates’ sentencing powers are helping restore the swift access to justice that victims deserve."
No comments:
Post a Comment