Open crown courts for longer, Surrey MP urges
Getty ImagesA Surrey MP has urged the government to increase the number of crown court sitting days so that burglars and other offenders can be prosecuted.
Liberal Democrat Monica Harding, MP for Esher and Walton, told the Commons that in Surrey a backlog in the courts is making it more difficult to prosecute criminals.
In December Justice Secretary David Lammy announced plans to scrap jury trials for all but the most serious offences, in a bid to clear the backlog.
He has also launched a recruitment drive to find thousands of new magistrates.
"While the local police are doing a great job catching burglars, they tell me that the perception of being unable to bring them to justice is making their ability to tackle persistent offenders more difficult and equally impacting on the confidence of local residents," Harding told the House.
"My constituents were incredulous recently when the borough commander told them that two individuals charged with burglary in December last year were given a date to appear for trial in September 2027.
"So what conversations is the minister having with her counterpart in the Ministry of Justice to increase the number of crown court sitting days so that my constituents have confidence?"
Policing Minister Sarah Jones said it was a problem inherited from the previous Conservative government.
"Our colleagues in the Ministry of Justice, we are talking to them from the Home Office every day about how we manage this situation and improve and increase the speed with which people are brought to justice in this Government," she said.
"We want to see everyone who commits a crime do the time."
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