Current location:Global Gateway news portal > travel
All rise! Former judge says 'pop
Global Gateway news portal2024-05-21 14:05:28【travel】5People have gathered around
Introduction'Pop-up courts' should be set up in pubs, libraries and supermarkets in a bid to restore faith in th
'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.
READ MORE: 'Secret' courts for speeding, truancy and TV fines must end: Magistrates call for judicial overhaul to stop cases being held behind closed doorsAdvertisement
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.
READ MORE: Outcry at plan by law reform chiefs to hold rape trials in 'secret' with the public and press banned from courtAdvertisement
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.
Address of this article:http://georgia.antjekoch.com/article-41e799195.html
Very good!(264)
Related articles
- Liverpool confirms Arne Slot as Jurgen Klopp's replacement
- Former National MP Alfred Ngaro interviewed by police after family fight next to mum’s coffin
- National and Labour defend Te Papa's right to display English version of Treaty of Waitangi
- Kelvin Davis uses valedictory speech to criticise 'ignorant politicians' on Māori issues
- Young Boys seals 6th Swiss soccer league title in 7 years after rallying from firing coach Wicky
- 'An authentic, genuine, warm man': Flood of tributes for Fa'anānā Efeso Collins
- Truck driver grabs schoolgirl in 'concerning' West Auckland incident
- Senior Labour MP ordered to take down ‘gross’ social media posts
- Kevin Pillar gets 1,000th career hit in Angels' win at Texas
- Israel Gaza: Netanyahu vows to press ahead with Rafah offensive
Popular articles
Recommended
OpenAI pauses ChatGPT voice after Scarlett Johansson comparisons
EDITORIAL: China should walk the talk with what it says on foreign policy
How the New Zealand Falcons are tackling stigma against LGBT people in sports
'We found the bastard': Aotearoa's 10th meteorite discovered
Election 2024: Biden and Trump bypassed the Commission on Presidential Debates
Truck driver grabs schoolgirl in 'concerning' West Auckland incident
Work to begin on Nelson road badly damaged in 2022 floods
More recovered possessions returned to victims of Wellington's Loafers Lodge fire
Links
- Pogacar leads Giro by nearly 7 minutes after stunning win in Queen stage
- Dive team finds bodies of 2 men dead inside plane in Alaska lake
- What happened in the UK's infected blood scandal? Inquiry report will be revealed on Monday
- Pacers score 39 points in first quarter vs. Knicks to set a Game 7 record
- Bryson DeChambeau puts on a show but somehow comes up short at PGA Championship
- St. Pauli wins German second division title ahead of promotion to Bundesliga
- Bryson DeChambeau puts on a show but somehow comes up short at PGA Championship
- Keller pitches 6 effective innings as the Pirates edge the Cubs 3
- Caitlin Clark adjusting to playing in the WNBA, finishes first week on a high note
- Record set for most goals in a single season in the Premier League