Dear Editor,

SO this discredited government want to restrict jury trials in England and Wales: Why? Well not for reducing the back log in the criminal courts but to show they are just doing something. They will not do it under their current plans as Geoffrey Cox MP highlighted so brilliantly yesterday in the parliamentary debate. Sadly this debate concentrated on offences rather than the principle of jury trials. 

In Harlow the former MP, Mr Halfon, told me in 2019 that the backlog was caused by “a note in the Treasury in 2010 that stated there was no money left”. That was so pathetic it was funny given he voted to close the local magistrates and county courts. 

And as for MP Vince, who voted for the government plans, I would suggest he did some research on this important issue and spoke to people who know about the subject: I am available for a fee. It would help pay for the publication of my book on the subject area.

Overall the reduction in jury trials would cost more because it would create many miscarriages of justice. Instead the government should re-open all the criminal courts closed by the Conservatives, invest in every area of the criminal justice system including, inter alia, prisons, probation and police services.  The government bill in its current format will be lost in the end because MP’ know jury trials are a key part of our unwritten constitution which the electorate support and recognise its importance.   

Regards

Gary Roberts