Your current location:HOME >style >All rise! Former judge says 'pop 正文
TIME:2024-05-18 00:38:25 Source: Internet compilationEdit:style
'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 doorsDame 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 courtData 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.
Prestigious £49,8002024-05-18 00:33
How major US stock indexes fared Friday, 4/12/20242024-05-18 00:11
2025 Oscars: Academy Awards announces March 2 date2024-05-18 00:03
The Masters is at the center of the golf fashion universe2024-05-17 23:57
California university president put on leave after announcing agreement with pro2024-05-17 23:41
First US moon lander in half a century stops working a week after tipping over at touchdown2024-05-17 23:19
Maine sues biochemical giant over contamination from PCB2024-05-17 23:05
A Dubai company’s staggering land deals in Africa raise fears about risks to Indigenous livelihoods2024-05-17 22:44
West Virginia candidate hospitalized after being bitten by snakes while removing campaign signs2024-05-17 22:37
Dead whale in New Jersey had a fractured skull among numerous injuries, experts find2024-05-17 22:09
Rose Zhang withdraws from LPGA tournament due to illness2024-05-18 00:19
Maggie Rogers on 'Don't Forget Me,' the album she wrote for a Sunday drive2024-05-18 00:10
Joel Embiid returns from injury scare, scores 32 as 76ers beat Magic 1252024-05-18 00:00
First US moon lander in half a century stops working a week after tipping over at touchdown2024-05-17 23:57
UN reports improved prospects for the world economy and forecasts 2.7% growth in 20242024-05-17 23:33
Falter beats former team, leads Pirates over Phillies 52024-05-17 23:32
Ancient stone tools found in Ukraine date may be oldest in Europe2024-05-17 23:02
Universal Pictures teases ‘Wicked’ and announces ‘Five Nights at Freddy’s 2’2024-05-17 22:37
A look at high2024-05-17 22:05
2025 Oscars: Academy Awards announces March 2 date2024-05-17 21:54