Thread by @Anna_Soubry

The appalling experience of a 13 year old rape victim waiting over 2 years for her trial because of a shortage of judges is far from rare. I’ve been back at the criminal bar for 9 months-in my experience the criminal justice system is on its knees. Desperately underfunded
#Today

I have clients accused of rape & other serious offences waiting 3 years for trial. We don’t have enough barristers (with the knock on effect of not enough judges) because of 28% cuts to fees. Our prisons are in crisis; court staff poorly paid working in crumbling courts.

The CPS is starved of cash & therefore people. Our police & probation are over stretched - again it comes down to underfunding & undervaluing the importance of an efficient and fair criminal justice system in a healthy democracy.

I acknowledge & apologise again for not doing more when I was in Govt to stop widespread cuts to funding & unecessary so called “reforms” that caused more harm than good.
We need a Justice Sec who will fight for a fully funded #CJS & a Govt who will deliver it.