Exclusive: Courts minister says change needed to stop criminals opting for juries to delay cases, sometimes by years, and clear huge backlog
Choosing to have a jury trial because you are entitled to it is not “gaming the system”. It’s your right. The fact the criminal justice system has been gutted is not the fault of the people passing through it. Surely the solution is more funding, steadily chugging through the backlog, and ensuring sufficient funding going forward to prevent this.
Being judged by your peers is one of the most important things we have going for us. We’ve had this since the 12th century - we should be protecting this wonderful thing about our country and not just throwing it away so the government can point to a graph that’s gone slightly down in 4 years time.
The government’s approach in every area seems to be to make a graph and then make the number go down by whatever short-term method seems easiest. NHS -> “let’s cozy up to Palantir!”. Immigration -> “let’s stop people wanting to come!”. Criminal justice -> “let’s get rid of juries!” Sure, the numbers go in the right direction, but they don’t see what they are throwing away in the process. It’s really disappointing.
Surely the solution is more funding, steadily chugging through the backlog, and ensuring sufficient funding going forward to prevent this.
Or, ya know, attempting to prosecute fewer people to begin with.
(Maybe start with not persecuting anti-genocide and climate activists for their speech, hint hint)
The MOJ should just make it’s life easier and get rid of courts all together. There you go, job done. Improved your waiting times. 🙃
