Victims face ‘courts emergency’ without reforms, warns Lammy

Victims of crime are facing a “courts emergency” that will surpass 100,000 outstanding cases without radical change, David Lammy has warned as he prepares to face MPs over plans to drop thousands of jury trials.

- Rajeev Syal Home affairs editor

The comments come after the deputy prime minister proposed last week to reduce the 78,000 outstanding cases in England and Wales by only allowing jury trials for serious crimes such as murder, rape and manslaughter.

In a further announcement, Lammy promised £550m of investment over three years to support victims and witnesses preparing to appear in court.

It came after the justice secretary was accused of creating a space for “further miscarriages of justice” by leading barristers and pressure groups.

A leaked letter from Lammy last week outlined radical proposals that will mean juries will pass judgment only on public interest offences with possible prison sentences of more than five years.

Preparing to make a statement to the Commons today, Lammy said: “Today lam calling time on the courts emergency that has left victims of the most serious crimes waiting years for justice and pushed the justice system to the brink of collapse.