Criminal Bar Association analysis of government data shows that last year 190 criminal trials in the Crown Court aborted on the first day because no judge was available – 58 involved sexual offence cases – nearly doubling in just 2 years from 100 trials of all offences similarly adjourning in 2021 on the first day due to judicial shortages. In 2022 a further 152 trials adjourned on the first day due to judicial unavailability, 46 of which were trials of sexual offence cases.
That’s 442 trials adjourned in the Crown Court over 3 years between 2021 and 2023 due to judges’ unavailability.
The Criminal Bar provides a substantial number of recorders – part-time judges – to keep the criminal courts running but we are also chronically short on numbers to act as counsel to prosecute on behalf of @CPSUK and defend cases.
No criminal bar, no one left to defend, prosecute, or preside as judges over cases.
Government has had a clear choice for years: pay to properly remunerate counsel so they stay providing a public service or preside over a collapse in public service.
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