Victims, witnesses and defendants are finding themselves waiting years for their day in front of a judge, with the Law Society continuing to blame a shortage of solicitors and the Government’s failure to invest in court buildings or raise legal aid rates.
Nick Emmerson, president of the Law Society in England and Wales said the crisis was severe and getting worse. On a visit to meet lawyers and students in the city he outlined problems in the justice system and said: “The prisons are full, there is a big lag in cases being heard, there are not enough lawyers or court staff, and there is crumbling infrastructure.”
He told The Herald that the most recent figures from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) reveal that in Plymouth between October and December 2023 there were 271 outstanding criminal court cases waiting to be heard. That figure was up from 251 cases in the same period in 2022 and 201 a year before that.
Mr Emmerson said that MoJ figures showed that in the whole South West there were more than 5,000 outstanding criminal court cases between October and December 2023, and it took an average of 136 days for outstanding cases to reach completion.
“Those are just in that quarter,” Mr Emmerson said. “And they are all going up. There is a backlog and congestion in the system.
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Herald.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent ? Anmelden
Diese Geschichte stammt aus der July 10, 2024-Ausgabe von The Herald.
Starten Sie Ihre 7-tägige kostenlose Testversion von Magzter GOLD, um auf Tausende kuratierte Premium-Storys sowie über 8.000 Zeitschriften und Zeitungen zuzugreifen.
Bereits Abonnent? Anmelden
AGONY TO ECSTASY!
ROONEY SENT OFF, BUT ARGYLE WIN IT IN STOPPAGE TIME
Pilgrims victorious in style with late, late goal
ROONEY SENT OFF BUT WHITTAKER WINS A THRILLER AT HOME PARK
Plymstock overcome Cully to reach the semi-final
PLYMSTOCK Oaks are through to the last four of the Devon Intermediate Cup thanks to a 36-28 win over Cullompton at Horsham Fields.
Henderson left delighted as Tavi march on
TAVISTOCK can look forward to today's FA Trophy fourth qualifying round draw after winning through with an excellent 3-1 win over Horndean at Langsford Park.
Ex-PM hits out at islands' handover
CEDING the Chagos Islands to Mauritius was \"completely the wrong thing to do\", former prime minister Boris Johnson has warned.
New rules for freebies
THE Government is \"trying to meet the expectations\" the public has of ministers when it comes to freebies, a Cabinet minister has said.
Gray quits role due to 'distraction'
SUE Gray has quit as the Downing Street chief of staff, citing fears she was \"becoming a distraction\" to Sir Keir Starmer's government.
Mosque strike kills 19
AN ISRAELI strike on a mosque in the Gaza Strip early yesterday killed at least 19 people, Palestinian officials said, as Israel intensified its bombardment of northern Gaza and southern Beirut in its widening war on Iran-allied militant groups across the region.
Quest to revive rail link plan is gathering pace
GOVERNMENT HAS PLACED TAVISTOCK LINK IN JEOPARDY
Ponies 'must be protected on moor"
MP SAYS HE'S 'CAUTIOUSLY OPTIMISTIC'