Lammy open to 'conversation' on alternatives to jury system

DAVID Lammy has said he is open to a “conversation” on alternatives to the Government's proposed changes to jury trials, but stressed: “I want the backlog coming down.”

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The Government has said it will drop jury trials for offences with a likely prison sentence of three years or less in order to address the crown court backlog, which sits at nearly 80,000 outstanding cases.

The ability to appeal a magistrates court verdict to a crown court will also be limited.

The measures follow a review into the justice system conducted by retired senior judge Sir Brian Leveson. The Government has yet to bring legislation forward.