Deputy PM David Lammy sets out overhaul of jury trial system to cut 80,000 case backlog in crown courts, but fails to address fundamental problems, say critics
The move will affect fraud trials under the plan to stop using juries in ‘either way’ fraud offences, which cover lower level fraud and have potential custodial sentences of up to three years.
With almost 80,000 outstanding cases waiting to be heard in the Crown Court, expected to reach 100,000 without urgent action, the deputy prime minister warned of a ‘courts emergency’ that is leaving victims waiting years to see their perpetrator held to account - leading to a breakdown of public trust in this vital system.
A number of major fraud trials are currently waiting to be heard in 2027 due to long delays in the court system, which mean three to four-year waits for the accused in these cases, including several finfluencer trials facing charges brought by the Financial Conduct Authority. It is not clear as yet whether these particular trials will move to the judge-led trial system.
