Retired Judge Demands Prime Ministerial Intervention as Justice System Teeters
Sir Brian Leveson, the former Court of Appeal judge appointed by the government to conduct an independent review of the courts system, has issued a stark warning that the criminal justice system stands "on the brink of collapse". In his second comprehensive report, exceeding 700 pages and containing more than 130 proposals, he has urged Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer to take direct personal charge of the escalating crisis.
A Central Coordinator for a Fragmented System
The cornerstone of Sir Brian's recommendations is the creation of a new, powerful position: a Prime Minister's criminal justice adviser. This role, modelled on Britain's national security adviser, would be based in Downing Street with oversight of the Ministry of Justice, the Home Office, and the Attorney General's Office. The adviser would act as a "central coordinator," tasked with ending the "siloed decision-making" and "fragmented governance" that Sir Brian identifies as key contributors to the system's decline.
"A criminal justice adviser would be a dedicated leader with criminal justice as their sole agenda, rather than as a part of a much bigger role," Sir Brian wrote. He urged that the post be written into law to ensure its permanence and that the individual should report directly to the Prime Minister, manage criminal justice spending, and answer regularly to Parliament.
Unprecedented Pressure and Systemic Failure
Sir Brian did not mince words about the scale of the emergency. "I have never seen pressure on the courts at such an unacceptable level," he stated. He highlighted how victims, witnesses, and defendants are waiting months or even years for trials, unable to move on with their lives. The Crown Court backlog in England and Wales has reached around 80,000 cases, with predictions it will hit 100,000 by November next year, and some trials are now being scheduled for 2030.
The retired judge criticised past policy failures, notably the 2019 pledge to hire 20,000 new police officers made without adequate funding for the knock-on effects on the Crown Prosecution Service, courts, and prisons. "There was inadequate preparation for the predictable consequences," he noted, exemplifying the lack of a "whole-system view."
Radical Reforms: AI, Videolinks, and Efficiency Drives
Sir Brian's report advocates for an aggressive, technology-driven modernisation of the justice process to tackle "deep-rooted operational issues." His key proposals include:
- Widespread adoption of Artificial Intelligence: For tasks such as CPS lawyers drafting case summaries, court officials reviewing witness statements, and acting as translators for non-English speaking defendants.
- Expanded use of videolinks: Recommending that pre-trial hearings be conducted virtually "by default," with police and professional witnesses giving evidence remotely. He also proposed that many convicted criminals be sentenced via videolink from jail to ease pressure on transport and court cells.
- Streamlined case preparation: Greater collaboration between police and the CPS to decide charges faster and prepare cases more effectively to reduce wasted hearings.
- Operational fixes: Renegotiating prison transport contracts, allowing prison vans to use bus lanes, introducing unlimited court sitting days, and developing a new strategy for crumbling court buildings.
Call for Immediate Action and Government Response
Sir Brian urged ministers and agencies to "get on with it," insisting that many recommendations could be acted upon immediately, including the appointment of an interim adviser. "We have got to throw everything at this problem now," he warned, adding that "efficiency and funding alone are not enough" without structural reform.
In response, Deputy Prime Minister and Lord Chancellor David Lammy acknowledged the crisis, stating: "Our courts are in crisis and thousands of victims are waiting far too long to get justice." He confirmed the government would urgently consider the proposals, noting that using digital technology to make courts more efficient would be a central pillar of their modernisation approach.
While the Magistrates Association welcomed much of the report, it cautioned that AI ambitions must be tempered, pointing to a troubled history of IT projects in courts. Metropolitan Police Commissioner Sir Mark Rowley, however, endorsed the recommendations as "a clear, credible path forward" towards a quicker, less burdensome system.
