It is my opinion that maladministration in my court
has increased measurably since 2012 and substantially since HMCS took over from
the days of magistrates` courts` committees.
The latest figures from the Ministry of Justice on ineffective trials add more weight to that opinion. In 2013
there were 155,087 trials in magistrates` courts of which 27,247 (17.6%) were ineffective. Of these ineffective trials 7,640 were owing to court maladministration;
i.e. just under 5% of the total trials and 28% of the ineffective trials. The 2nd quarter of this year shows
that that last number has risen to 29%
and 18% of the total number of trials were ineffective. In other words the problem is becoming
worse. I wonder if Chris Grayling will
be braying about this most obvious indicator of his ability to undermine our
justice system in magistrates` courts.
He will of course argue that the numbers are marginally better than 2006
before staff numbers in the courts and the CPS were decimated by the current
administration. Just how far he is
prepared to go is indicated every day by
what he has done and is doing to the
probation service and our system of legal aid.
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