Justice system 'collapsing', warns ex-minister Grieve

Attorney general during the 2011 riots says: 'If justice is not routinely delivered, people lose confidence in the rule of law'

- KATE DEVLIN, ANDY GREGORY

The former attorney general during the 2011 riots has warned recent far-right violence should be a wake-up call for the country’s broken justice system.

Dominic Grieve praised the rapid convictions of those who took part in the violence, saying they had used similar tactics in 2011 and that the authorities in recent days had “risen to the occasion”. So far, more than 480 people have been arrested, with 150 appearing in court and stiff jail terms for those who have been sentenced.

But, he stressed, high-profile arrests and sentences will not necessarily prevent future violence on the streets unless extensive court delays caused by years of underfunding are dealt with.

“There is a much wider and longer-term issue, which is the justice system in this country is not functioning properly,” he told The Independent. “It can rise to the occasion, as one can see in current circumstances. But generally speaking, the length of time it takes for somebody to be brought to justice is much too long.