Crown court backlog
Financial Times (£), Guardian, Independent, City A.M, Sky News, Solicitors Journal and more than 210 national and regional outlets cover the NAO’s report that Crown court backlogs in England and Wales cannot be reduced to 53,000 by March 2025.
The NAO report, published on Friday, warns that court buildings are not fit for purpose due to “long term underinvestment,” possibly adding to the difficulty in reducing the backlog.
Law Society president Nick Emmerson said: “The UK government’s shortsighted approach to justice including more than a decade of underfunding of our criminal justice system, has resulted in a chronic shortage of judges and lawyers, huge backlogs, crumbling courts and prison spaces running out.”
Post Office victims exonerated
Guardian, Gazette Ireland, MSN UK and Yahoo UK report that hundreds of Post Office Horizon victims will be exonerated, as the Post Office (Horizon system) offences bill received Royal assent on Friday.
President Nick Emmerson said: “We are pleased that postmasters and others affected by the Post Office/Horizon scandal now have their convictions quashed and can gain access to compensation schemes.
“We reiterate that a piece of legislation as constitutionally significant as this required adequate parliamentary scrutiny time.
“This bill has now been pushed through both houses at pace and the Law Society remains concerned that it could set a precedent for parliamentary intervention in the justice system.”
Election wash-up
Gazette reports the Law Society’s reaction to further delays in reforming legal aid, as the election ‘wash-up’ is underway.
President Nick Emmerson said: “The next government must provide the investment needed to secure the future of the criminal legal aid firms who have reached crisis point.”
Global Legal Post cites the Law Society’s general reaction to the upcoming election.
President Nick Emmerson said: “Delivering access to justice is vital for our justice system, and all political parties must commit to upholding the rule of law and narrowing the justice gap to create a fairer, more accessible system for all.”
Gazette also mentions our High Court victory in reporting that both the Civil Legal Aid Review and criminal legal aid reform will be kicked into the long grass in preparation for the July election.
Renters Reform Bill
Today’s Conveyancer, Property Wire and Property Industry Eye reveal that the Renters Reform Bill will be dropped, as parliament is set to dissolve.
President Nick Emmerson said: “We have been increasingly frustrated by the delays in banning ‘no-fault’ evictions and we are disappointed in the decision to drop the Renters Reform Bill entirely during the wash-up.
“A ban on ‘no-fault’ evictions was a critical step in strengthening renters’ rights. The constant delays, obstruction and now complete abandonment of the Renters Reform Bill shows us that reforming the rental market has not been taken seriously.
“With the cost-of-living crisis and high interest rates, many renters are struggling to pay rent. The next government must treat renters’ rights as a priority.”
Mortgage possession claims
Telegraph & Argus, Barnet Post, Oxford Mail, Wirral Globe, Swindon Advertiser and more than a dozen other regional outlets continue coverage of recent figures that highlight the rising number of eviction and repossession claims made earlier this year.
President Nick Emmerson said: "We are concerned about the number of people who are at risk of becoming homeless.
"With the cost-of-living crisis and high interest rates, many are struggling with rent and mortgage payments and are at risk of losing their homes."
Also worth a read:
- Rishi Sunak admits Rwanda flights won’t take off before the election – Independent
- PM says mandatory national service will ‘foster service’ and boost security - BBC
- PM unveils £2.4bn pensioner tax cut – FT (£)
- Faulty online portal allows couples to divorce earlier than legally permitted – Legal Futures
- Lord Chancelor concludes review of whiplash tariff, but is unclear if it will be published before the election – Legal Futures
- Police to deploy 80 detectives for criminal inquiry into the Post Office scandal – Guardian
- Chair of the Post Office Inquiry has says he will not take further action to force a key witness to appear next month - Gazette
- Paula Vennells, former Post Office boss, faced a barrage of questioning as she presented evidence in Friday’s Post Office inquiry session – Times (£)
- Prisons risk repeat of notorious Strangeways riot, governors warn – Telegraph (£)
- Hundreds of children under 10 subject to stop and search in England and Wales – Guardian
- ICJ orders Israel to halt Rafah offensive – Evening Standard
- Editorial: Prison overcrowding a symbol of justice system in meltdown - Guardian
- Rebekah Vardy and Coleen Rooney face new High Court fight in Wagatha Christie feud – Evening Standard
- Scotland’s courts face major disruption as lawyers take action – Herald Scotland