The controversial plan to curb jury trials announced has been scrapped, the Government has announced.
The controversial plan to curb jury trials was announced under Sir Keir Starmer and would mean trials would be scrapped for all but the most serious cases.
But Justice Secretary, Alex Norris said the Government would now “change course” after hearing the “strength of feeling on the proposals”.
Only some fraud and financial offences will now be allowed to be heard before a judge alone without a jury, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said. Those accused of minor crime will lose the right to choose a crown court trial over one in the magistrates.
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Justice Secretary says ‘significant changes’ made in court reforms
The Justice Secretary Alex Norris says he is making “very significant changes” to proposed court reforms.
This comes after it was announced overnight that controversial proposals to curb jury trials were being scrapped.
Speaking with , Norris said: “We’re making very significant changes in the bill. So for example, the removal of what’s called the right to elect. So the court will decide whether a case is heard in the magistrates’ or heard in the crown court.
“Similarly, restricting the context in which a case tried in the magistrates’ court can have an appeal in the crown court. We’re increasing the length of sentences that magistrates can pass so they can do more cases.
“So all of that will reroute cases through the system in a way that means that they get dealt with more quickly because, as I say at the moment, those waiting lists are unacceptable. This package will indeed drive them down.”
Green Peer says she’s willing to face prison over water bill protest
A member of the House of Lords has said she is “prepared” to be prosecuted and jailed for not paying her water bill, adding that it’s not fair that she should pay them for “something that they’re not doing.”
Green peer Jenny Jones has refused to pay Thames Water for the utilities she uses out of protest for the the company’s waste management practices.
Speaking with , Jones said: “I’ve stopped paying. I’m not recommending it to anybody because it’s quite horrible to get the letters from them and the increased bill.”
Asked if she’s prepared to go to prison for her protest, Jones replied: “I’m hoping they’d go bankrupt before I’m arrested or sent to court, but who knows?
“I am prepared to, because although, you know, I’m actually quite law-abiding considering I’m a Green Party person, and I just thought it’s not fair that I should pay them for something that they’re not doing.”
Burnham scraps Starmer’s controversial plan to curb jury trials
Andy Burnham has scrapped the controversial plan to curb jury trials, the Government has announced.
The controversial plan to curb jury trials was announced under Sir Keir Starmer and would mean trials would be scrapped for all but the most serious cases.
But Justice Secretary, Alex Norris said the Government would now “change course” after hearing the “strength of feeling on the proposals”.
Only some fraud and financial offences will now be allowed to be heard before a judge alone without a jury, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) said. Those accused of minor crime will lose the right to choose a crown court trial over one in the magistrates.