This “crackdown on soft justice” will affect a tiny % of offenders, *not* all, or even most, violent offenders.
Meanwhile, a new report published today by @westerncircuit shows that victims are having to wait TWO YEARS for trials.
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Meanwhile, a new report published today by @westerncircuit shows that victims are having to wait TWO YEARS for trials.
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I’ve tweeted about the new sentencing policy before, below. It doesn’t apply to the most dangerous offenders at all (#FakeLaw alert), has no evidence base behind it and will cost £100m.
But let’s look for now at the claim that it “puts victims first”.
But let’s look for now at the claim that it “puts victims first”.
Today’s report from the @westerncircuit shows that due to police cuts, changes to bail rules and @MoJGovUK cuts to court sitting days (the number of days courtrooms are allowed to open), the average time taken for cases to conclude has rocketed over the last 10 years:
The failure of the government to pay for enough courtrooms to open, means that the taxpayer is paying for judges to sit at home having “reading days” while victims, witnesses and defendants see their trials repeatedly adjourned for “lack of court time”.
Witnesses, victims and defendants see their trial adjourned time and time again. Many, understandably, simply lose faith in the system and withdraw their cooperation. Justice denied. The guilty go free, the innocent at risk of conviction.
So faced with this crisis, what is Justice Secretary @RobertBuckland’s priority?
Scoring cheap headlines in the Daily Express by inflating a handful of sentences, boasting about “putting victims first” while ignoring the problems that actually matter.
Scoring cheap headlines in the Daily Express by inflating a handful of sentences, boasting about “putting victims first” while ignoring the problems that actually matter.
The @MoJGovUK chooses to spend what little money it has on locking up a few people for a bit longer, rather than opening enough courtrooms so that justice can actually be done in court.
Shameful, cynical, weak on crime and a betrayal of all, including victims.
#TheLawIsBroken
Shameful, cynical, weak on crime and a betrayal of all, including victims.
#TheLawIsBroken
The full, devastating report from @westerncircuit is available here. It deserves far bigger headlines than the government is getting for its “tougher sentences” posturing. Please share far and wide.
