𝓤𝓷𝓲𝓽𝓮𝓭 𝓝𝓮𝔀𝓼

David Lammy has announced that some jury trials will be scrapped in a bid to tackle the court backlog. The Justice Secretary confirmed they would be reserved for “indictable-only” offences such as murder and rape, and lesser “either-way” offences with a likely sentence of more than three years in prison.

So-called “swift courts” will instead be set up in England and Wales. But the move has sparked a furious backlash from opposition parties and legal professionals.

Mr Lammy said: “I’m clear that jury trials will continue to be the cornerstone of the system for the most serious offences.

“We must also be honest that this is a problem that has taken years to build up, it will take years to fix.

“The changes I’m proposing will require legislation, it will take time to implement. Our investment will also need time to have an effect.”

The suggestion to scrap more jury trials, which currently make up 3% of cases, has faced criticism amid concerns over fairness, curtailing rights, and a lack of evidence the move will even help bring down the backlog.

The Law Society of England and Wales warned the proposals “go too far in eroding our fundamental right to be judged by a jury of our own peers”.