Brandon Lewis is the MP for Nice Yarmouth, and the Justice Secretary
Justice delayed means justice denied, because the authorized maxim goes. But that’s the cruel actuality for too many victims throughout the nation as we speak.
The coronavirus pandemic had a devastating affect, driving up the backlog of circumstances. In 2019, these had been at their lowest stage for nearly 20 years. The current strikes over barristers’ pay have exacerbated these delays, leaving victims ready even longer for justice. Their lives are basically being placed on maintain.
Like me, the Prime Minister is decided to get the justice system shifting once more. As a Authorities, we’re clear that everybody deserves swift entry to justice, irrespective of who they’re or the place they’re.
When I used to be appointed as Justice Secretary, I met with leaders of the Bar Council and Prison Bar Affiliation as quickly as virtually potential – to start out speaking about how we might finish the revolving door of strike motion.
I’m happy this week {that a} majority of legal barristers voted to finish strike motion on the idea of a new package deal we put ahead, which means barristers are actually again at work. Now we will all must work collectively to get on prime of the backlogs and unclog our courts, guaranteeing victims get the justice they deserve.
These proposals will get the wheels of justice shifting once more for the good thing about all – together with victims of among the most horrific crimes like rape and sexual violence. We’re severe about doing higher for victims, in order that extra circumstances come to court docket and extra criminals are put behind bars.
Our package deal for barristers already features a beneficiant 15 % pay rise for brand new circumstances. Meaning round £7000 a yr further for the standard legal barrister. We’ve now agreed to a rise for the overwhelming majority of circumstances the place work had already begun.
I’m clear that additional strike motion should be prevented, so that this example can not come up once more. That’s why I’m creating a brand new Prison Authorized Assist Advisory Board – as really useful within the Bellamy overview – that may ensure authorized support schemes hold tempo with the fact of legal justice as we speak. My hope is that we are able to break the damaging cycle that has beset relations between legal barristers and the Authorities for over a decade. We’re losing no time organising the Board and I’m happy to say that it will meet for the primary time later this month.
Over the subsequent three years, we are investing an additional £477 million into criminal justice system restoration and have eliminated the cap on court docket sitting days for 2 years in a row to assist us to get by way of as many circumstances as potential.
Non permanent Nightingale Courts have elevated court docket capability, and we’ve rolled out video know-how to the overwhelming majority of courts so extra hearings can happen remotely.
Our new ‘tremendous courtrooms’ in Manchester and Loughborough are ready to listen to as much as 250 further circumstances a yr, whereas more durable sentencing powers for magistrates have freed up round 1,700 sitting days of Crown Courtroom time – which means extra circumstances can get by way of the system extra shortly.
And by elevating the obligatory retirement for judges from 70 to 75, we’ve been capable of retain extra judges and magistrates to verify we’ve got capability to listen to sufficient circumstances this yr and past.
By our focused efforts, the excellent caseload within the Crown Courtroom had diminished from 60,400 circumstances in June final yr, to 57,900 on the finish of March this yr. However since April, the backlog has been growing once more, having constructed up throughout the Prison Bar Affiliation’s strike motion, and was again at round 60,000 circumstances on the finish of July.
Additional motion is subsequently wanted to make sure we drive the backlog down as soon as once more. We now have carried out it earlier than, and we’ll do it once more.
I need to thank the Prison Bar for partaking with us and I’m happy that its leaders have agreed to assist us in our efforts to drive down court docket backlogs, resolve circumstances sooner, and work with the judiciary and Crown Prosecution Service to make higher use of court docket time.
It’s time for a contemporary begin. For a extra open, constructive relationship between Authorities and our legal authorized career.
In spite of everything, we share the identical goal – placing the legal justice system on a extra sustainable footing for the longer term. That’s a win for victims, and certainly everybody who depends on our justice system.
