Thirty organisations representing victims of violence against women and girls (VAWG) have written to Justice Secretary David Lammy, urging him to drop plans to significantly reduce the number of jury trials in England and Wales. The groups argue that the proposals will deepen mistrust in the justice system and distract from measures designed to reduce offending.
The signatories, which include Rights of Women, the End Violence Against Women Coalition, and Women's Aid, expressed deep concern that curtailing jury trials risks unfair outcomes. The letter, also signed by Fiona Rutherford of the law reform charity Justice, highlighted particular worries for women and girls who are 'unjustly criminalised' as a result of their abuse, some of whom have faced trial themselves.
The controversial Courts and Tribunals Bill aims to tackle a backlog of 80,000 crown court cases, which the government says could rise to 200,000 by 2035. If passed, jury trials would be scrapped for cases likely to carry a custodial sentence of fewer than three years, magistrates would gain increased sentencing powers, and lone judges could hear some crown court cases.
During a debate on the bill, Labour MP Charlotte Nichols accused the government of using rape victims as a 'cudgel' to drive through changes. She revealed she waited 1,088 days for her rape case to come to trial. However, another Labour MP, Natalie Fleet, who was groomed and raped as a teenager, said: 'You know what's worse than being raped? Facing years of waiting to see if people believe you.'
The organisations warned that reducing jury trials risks diverting resources from substantive reform needed to address the underlying causes of VAWG. They also raised diversity concerns, noting that only 36% of circuit judges who sit in crown court cases are women.
