Lord Chancellor calls for justice review

The Lord Chancellor has described as "appalling" figures which indicate that almost one-in-three trials did not go ahead on time last year – and has pledged to improve the Criminal Justice System (CJS).

Lord Falconer, Secretary of State at the Department for Constitutional Affairs, told the Delivering Justice conference in London, that of 212,000 trials scheduled each year, 63,000 did not go ahead on time and witnesses have a 50% chance of not giving evidence on the day they should.

"The public just aren't interested in which agency lets them down. As far as victims and witnesses are concerned, the system is failing. This has to stop," he said.

"I have asked for performance tables from October to show, area by area, how each of the 42 criminal justice areas are performing in terms of ineffective trials and timeliness. And we will identify the best and promote their solutions throughout England and Wales."

Lord Falconer pledged to get the charge correct at the outset of a case, deliver more effective case management, improve the service provided to victims, witnesses and defendants, and bring more offenders to justice.

"The taxpayer pays £350 every time a police constable sits in court all day waiting for a hearing that does not take place. By improving the management of cases, we can save money for the taxpayer and let the police catch criminals," he said.

Home Secretary David Blunkett said: "All too often cases get delayed which is very frustrating for the victims and witnesses. The key to swift and effective justice is to get the criminal justice process right at the start.

"This programme is part of our radical shake up of the justice system and will help to ensure that properly prepared cases get to trial quickly."

The target for the reduction in the proportion of ineffective trials is 27% by 2005/06, covering both Crown and Magistrates Courts.

It is part of the wider cross CJS Public Service Agreement target to increase the number of crimes for which an offender is brought to justice to 1.2 million offences by 2005/06.

(GMcG)