Jury trial changes 'not bold enough', PCC says

West Mercia's Police and Crime Commissioner has said government plans to scrap jury trials for crimes that carry a likely sentence of less than three years are "not bold enough".

The changes include creating "swift courts" under the government's plan to tackle unprecedented delays in the court system.

"The government has made a backwards step with the removal of the long-standing tradition of jury trials," said Conservative John Campion.

Justice secretary David Lammy said the reforms were "bold" but "necessary", and the new system would get cases dealt with 20% faster than jury trials.

Campion said he wanted the government to go further, by removing the cap on court sitting days, while moving away from its move to restrict jury trials.

Court sitting days were cut by the previous government.

"I have consistently called for more investment into the criminal justice system," he said, adding that some of the measures announced "were a welcome step forward".

"However, we need radical change, not tinkering around the edges."

The PCC welcomed plans to increase the number of days hearings were held, to provide additional funding for legal aid advocates, and encourage more people into the legal profession.

The potential changes mean serious offences including murder, robbery and rape will still go before a jury, and volunteer community magistrates, who deal with the majority of all criminal cases, will take on even more work.

There are about 1.3 million prosecutions in England and Wales every year, and 10% of those cases go before a Crown court. Of those, three out of 10 result in trials.

The changes appear to mean that more than two out of 10 will still go before a jury.

Lammy added that it was necessary as current projections have Crown court caseloads reaching 100,000 by 2028, from the current backlog of almost 78,000.

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