LONDON, Dec 02 (AFP): Britain's justice minister is set Tuesday to unveil "the most sweeping modernisation" of the courts "in a generation", with media reporting plans to end jury trials except for the most serious crimes.
The planned changes would massively restrict the historic right to a jury trial in England and Wales, guaranteeing it only for defendants facing rape, murder, manslaughter or other cases passing a public interest test, according to different UK news outlets.
The mooted reforms have already prompted a backlash within the judiciary and among legal professionals, with more than 100 lawyers writing to the justice ministry last week expressing concerns and complaining that the sector is being ignored.
The government is bidding to cut a huge backlog in outstanding criminal cases dating back years, which it says is set to reach 100,000 by 2028 without "urgent action".
Justice minister David Lammy, whose department has previously insisted no final decisions have been taken over curbing jury trials, will unveil a package of reforms in parliament on Tuesday.
"I am 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," he said in comments released beforehand.
"We must be bold. I will set out a fast and fair justice plan that gives victims and survivors the swift justice they deserve."
Some victims are currently waiting as long as four years for "their day in court", and over 10 percent of adult rape cases are stopped because a victim withdraws from the process, according to the justice ministry.
It said the reforms to be announced will create "faster routes for lower-level cases" and "free up Crown Court time so the most serious crimes are heard swiftly and fairly".
Lammy will also pledge œ550 million ($727 million) in additional funding over three years to boost support services helping victims and witnesses through the justice process.
Other measures include financially supporting training lawyers to become fully-fledged criminal barristers, with a focus on encouraging "young people from across society" to participate.
