Incredible news! Citizens of Guildford, ALL SERIOUS CRIME HAS BEEN SOLVED! There is not a single criminal allegation for your Crown Court to deal with tomorrow! Ignore the naysayers whinging about trials being listed in 2021 - they must be wrong, for crime in Guildford is over.
Sarcasm aside, the grim reality is that there are thousands of victims of violence, sexual offending, robbery, fraud, burglary, theft and other serious crime in Surrey who are waiting years between offence and trial, while these courtrooms lie unused to save the govt a few £.
Yet all we hear - day after day - is how “tough” this government is on crime. “Longer sentences!” they chant, dead behind the eyes, brains vacated. Meanwhile the same ministers cause victims and defendants to wait years on end for justice to be done. Increasingly, it isn’t.
UPDATE: There was a good reason for the court closure yesterday. Thanks to @gj_hart for bringing it to my attention.
