All rise! Former judge says 'pop

Release time：2024-04-25 09:03:48 Source：Stellar Stories news portal

'Pop-up courts' should be set up in pubs, libraries and supermarkets in a bid to restore faith in the criminal justice system, a former High Court judge has urged.

Dame Anne Rafferty said libraries, church halls, schools during holidays and even pubs could be used as makeshift courtrooms.

The 73-year-old added that a 'bonus point' of the improvised courts would be a reduction in the massive backlog in the crown court - which is at a 23-year high with 67,000 cases awaiting a date.

The backlog for sexual offences has increased three-fold since 2018, with the rape case backlog five times higher than it was six years ago. The shocking figures have seen judges in England and Wales try to priotise the cases.  

The former Judge said that Covid had boosted technological advances within the courts, with laptops and tablets being used by court officials meaning the process can be easily moved from location to location.

Dame Anne Rafferty, a former Court of Appeal and High Court judge, said libraries, church halls, schools during holidays and even pubs could be used to serve justice

The backlog for sexual offences has increased three-fold since 2018, with the rape case backlog five times higher than it was six years ago. Pictured: The Royal Courts of Justice 

Dame Anne said 'pop-up courts' should be set up in pubs, libraries and supermarkets in a bid to restore faith in the criminal justice system

During the pandemic Nightingale courts were set up to help ease some of the pressure on the judicial system. 

Dame Anne told The Times: 'The community can embrace justice and justice can position itself locally, as it always did and should still do

'Possible venues: library, church hall, school during the holidays, pub, disused newspaper building, supermarket with spare area. Look for buildings in daily use but with slack, or buildings just sitting there.'

'This is the time to do it,' she added, 'Covid has advanced IT massively and, more importantly, we are not troubled by vast amounts of documents having to be transported to the venue and locked up securely overnight. We use laptops and tablets.' 

The judge also proposed that the buildings could be used in inquests and other forms of hearings. 

Dame Anne suggests that the proposal would cut backlogs, reduce delays and engage people with the justice system. 

And it would not be the first time boozers could be used to serve justice. Courts of piepowders - usually held in markets or fairs - were used in the 18th century, with the Stag and Hound pub in Bristol reportedly being used in 1870. 

Using community facilities such as pubs would help ease backlogs and restore faith in the justice system, the former Judge said

The judge also proposed that the buildings, such as libraries (pictured)could be used in inquests and other forms of hearings

In January backlog of crown court cases awaiting trial were at a record of more than 65,000, with many defendants waiting more than two years to reach court.

Data from the Ministry of Justice (MoJ) showed Crown courts in England and Wales had 66,547 cases on the books at end of September, up 3 per cent on the previous quarter.

It means some victims of crime are facing years of delay before securing justice.

Meanwhile, children's charity the NSPCC warned child victims of sex abuse are being left in 'limbo' for an average of 14 months for trials to begin.

The backlog in magistrates' courts was also up to nearly 353,000, also a rise of 3 per cent in three months.

The combined figures mean the overall backlog stood at 419,492, below the peak of 460,000 during the pandemic when courts shut down.

The Crown courts received just over 27,800 new cases during the July-to-September period, but disposed of fewer than 25,700 during the same quarter.

The MoJ has set a target to cut the Crown court backlog to 53,000 by March 2025, but progress over recent months has gone into reverse.

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