The coronavirus pandemic has caused a massive backlog of criminal trials in Britain, with some defendants told they will have to wait until 2023. But the opposition Labour Party’s suggestion for reducing the size of juries has been criticised.
The Labour Party has called for the number of people on juries in criminal trials in England and Wales to be cut from 12 to seven in a bid to tackle a backlog of 54,000.
He said: “Victims of rape, murder, domestic abuse, robbery and assault are facing delays of up to four years because of the government’s failure to act.”
Because of social distancing and other measures many courts are out of action and trials are frequently delayed or postponed when jurors, lawyers or defendants contract COVID-19.
During World War Two when the pool of people available for jury service was reduced by soldiers and sailors being away from home, trial juries were reduced from 12 to seven.
But the idea has immediately been shot down by lawyers and law experts.
The Ministry of Justice more than 290 extra courtrooms – dubbed Nightingale courts – had been set up to hold COVID-secure jury trials.
The ministry said: “But we know more must be done and are investing 110 million pounds into a range of measures to drive this recovery further, including opening more Nightingale courts.” it said.
The legal system in Scotland is different to that in England in Wales.
Scotland – which requires a jury of 15 in criminal trials – has a backlog of over 30,000 cases, up 40 percent since the start of the pandemic.
Sourse: sputniknews.com
