Courts In Crisis As Strike By Barristers Hits Thousands Of Cases

Criminal barristers today voted for an all-out strike which is set to bring courts to a standstill in a new blow to victims of rape and other serious crimes waiting for justice.

- Tristan Kirk and Martin Bentham

The walkout, which will begin next week ahead of an official start date in early September, follows an overwhelming vote by the barristers in favour of action in protest at falling pay and declining numbers in their profession.

It will force hundreds of trials to be delayed and add to a huge backlog of cases that is already forcing some victims to wait years for justice. Ministers hit out, claiming the action was unnecessary. But leaders of the Criminal Bar Association, which called the strike, rejected the charge and said the high turnout in the ballot reflected the strength of feeling among barristers about the plight of their profession and problems in the justice system.