Jury trial reform to tackle case backlog

JURY trials in some cases will be scrapped and so-called “swift courts” set up in England and Wales, the Justice Secretary has announced.

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Currently jury trials make up 3% of cases but this will be curbed further as David Lammy confirmed they would be reserved for “indictable-only” offences such as murder and rape, and lesser “either-way” offences with a likely sentence of more than three years in prison.

Mr Lammy, who is also deputy prime minister, told MPs reforms were “desperately needed” amid victims facing “agonising delays”, with the crown court backlog projected to reach 100,000 by 2028.

“I'm clear that jury trials will continue to be the cornerstone of the system for the most serious offences,” he said.