Major Court Overhaul Announced by Deputy PM David Lammy
In a landmark speech delivered in London, Deputy Prime Minister and Justice Secretary David Lammy has declared an urgent need to modernise Britain's "old, creaking justice system" through a comprehensive package of reforms. The ambitious plan aims to tackle the growing courts backlog and reduce waiting times for victims seeking justice.
Blitz Courts and Targeted Case Management
Central to the reforms is the expansion of "blitz courts" across the country, which will group similar cases together to concentrate court resources more efficiently. From April, London blitz courts will specifically focus on cases involving assaults on emergency workers, with plans to subsequently explore drug possession and commercial burglary cases for these targeted courts.
This approach is designed to minimise wasted court time when cases cannot proceed at the last minute, creating a more streamlined judicial process. The Ministry of Justice's modelling presents a stark picture: without these reforms, the Crown Courts backlog could reach 200,000 cases by 2035.
Technological Transformation and Infrastructure Changes
Mr Lammy emphasised that new technology, particularly artificial intelligence, will help the court system "smash through delays, cut complexity, and free up people to do what they do best." AI will be deployed to transcribe material and summarise judgments, accelerating case progression significantly.
Additional technological improvements include:
- Expanded online hearings in Crown and Magistrates' courts through investment in new video infrastructure
- A pilot scheme allowing prison vans to use bus lanes in more areas and employ emergency vehicle technology to switch traffic lights green, reducing delays in transporting inmates to courtrooms
- The removal of limits on sitting days for Crown courts through a £2.8 billion settlement with the judiciary
Controversial Jury Trial Changes
The Deputy Prime Minister stood firmly by his controversial proposal to remove access to jury trials for defendants facing sentences of three years or less, despite facing opposition from MPs. He characterised criticism of these plans as "old fashioned and male," emphasising that vulnerable victims must remain at the heart of justice reforms.
"If we are serious about centring victims of crime, particularly vulnerable victims of crime, that we have to now press forward with all of these measures as a package," Mr Lammy told his parliamentary colleagues, acknowledging he expects "heated debate" when legislation is published tomorrow.
Addressing the Justice Backlog Crisis
The scale of the challenge is substantial: the Crown Courts backlog currently stands at approximately 80,000 cases, with Ministry of Justice projections suggesting this could reach 100,000 by 2028. However, the reforms aim to more than halve the backlog to under 50,000 cases by 2035.
Courts Minister Sarah Sackman admitted that it will take "the best part of a decade" for trial timeliness to improve significantly, acknowledging this timeline is "not good enough" for current victims. She emphasised that victims will begin to see improvements by the end of the current Parliament.
Mixed Reactions from Stakeholders
Victims' Commissioner Claire Waxman strongly endorsed the reforms, warning that "the long waits for court are absolutely driving victims out of the criminal justice system" and creating public safety issues when offenders cannot be brought to justice.
However, Labour MP Karl Turner, who is leading a backbench rebellion against the jury trial changes, expressed "deep and growing concern across Parliament" about eliminating jury trials, arguing there is "no evidential link between juries and the cause of the backlog."
Richard Atkinson from the Law Society welcomed the lifting of restrictions on court sitting days as a "step in the right direction" but cautioned that AI is not a "silver bullet" and requires appropriate safeguards. He opposed the jury plans, stating that "lasting reform requires sustained funding for court capacity and the legal profession, not rushed legislation that risks weakening confidence in the justice system."
The comprehensive reforms package also includes a new National Listing Framework designed to end the "postcode lottery" in the justice system and ensure greater consistency in how courts are listed across the country.
