Justice Committee Chair comment: Independent Review of the Criminal Courts

Commenting on Sir Brian Leveson's Review, Chair of the Justice Committee and Labour MP Andy Slaughter said: “Juries are central to our constitutional right to a fair trial. We should think very carefully before altering a system that has served us well for centuries. But that does not mean the ambit of the jury system can never change. Sir Brian makes a compelling case for radical change and the need for more than extra resources to restore the reputation of the criminal courts.

“The Justice Committee will consider the recommendations on jury trial in the independent review with an open mind, alongside the series of further changes to the operation of the Crown Courts which the review recommends. Structural change, operational efficiency and increasing investment are all key to making inroads into the unprecedented backlog of cases in the criminal justice system. They are not alternatives. We owe it to victims and defendants alike, indeed to all court users, to take the necessary steps to end delay and dysfunction in our courts.”