About
A free weekly collection of criminal law links - for practitioners, law students, and anyone with an interest in the criminal justice system of England and Wales.
Curated by Sam Willis, a barrister at 5 King's Bench Walk.
News
'Trials across the country accelerated for fast and fair justice'
Judges, supported by court staff, are using the initiative – previously known as Blitz Courts – to help cut mounting court delays that have left victims waiting years for justice. The scheme works by grouping similar cases together over a short, intensive period, focusing judicial expertise, prosecutors’ times and court staff knowledge in one place so cases can be resolved more quickly and efficiently. As a result of the Government’s decision to un-cap Crown Court sitting days, judges are now able to accelerate domestic abuse, drug and knife-crime cases at several sites in London, including the Old Bailey, Snaresbrook and Croydon Crown Court. The scheme is also being deployed at court sites across Liverpool, Preston and Nottingham...
The scheme has seen results in two dedicated courtrooms at the Old Bailey throughout the summer, assisting in efforts to clear a backlog of nearly 500 assaults on emergency workers. As a result, almost 50 per cent of this type of outstanding cases have already concluded, getting fast and fair justice for the frontline heroes attacked in the line of duty. Its success has led to judges choosing to accelerate possession of a bladed article cases, delivering justice and better protecting communities blighted by knife crime...
'New courts in the north to help women break the cycle of reoffending'
The new model of courts will make low-level offenders directly confront issues such as trauma and addiction, tackling the root causes of crime while keeping prison for those who pose a risk to the public. First launched in 2023, the scheme has now been rolled out to three women’s courts in West Yorkshire, Merseyside and Northumbria, increasing the number of these pioneering courts across the country to 7. The goal is to reduce – and eventually entirely stop – reoffending, giving these women a fair chance at turning their lives around and keeping communities safe.
The courts work by judges playing a more a central role in rehabilitation through monitoring an individual’s progress and can tighter supervision where needed. Measures include tagging and engaging with drug and alcohol treatment or trauma-informed services to hold women accountable for their offences whilst addressing the underlying cause. This world-recognised approach has been shown to reduce reoffending by a third in the US...
'Remote hearings to unlock capacity and speed up justice for victims'
The transformative technology has been deployed to allow court cases to be transferred digitally to judges anywhere in the country, helping redistribute resources, target courts bogged down by growing backlogs and spare victims the pain of devastating delays. Pioneered in London and the North-East, remote hearings bring together judges, defendants, lawyers, court staff and witnesses from across the country, allowing hearings to take place without the need for everyone to attend court in person. Cases conducted using this technology uphold the fundamental principles of fairness, access to justice and open justice, supported by robust safeguards throughout hearings. Participants will always have the right to apply to the judge for a face-to-face hearing...
With tens of thousands of remote and hybrid hearings already taking place across England and Wales every month, the reforms mark a major step towards a more modern court system that’s fit for a digital age. The pilot has been rolled out in line with the Lady Chief Justice’s latest guidance, with future expansion subject to evaluation and judicial approval. Leading the way in technological transformation, the Ministry of Justice is continuing to invest in video technology, making remote hearings more accessible and improving support for vulnerable witnesses. New arrangements have also been agreed with the National Police Chiefs’ Council and the Crown Prosecution Service to expand the use of live video links for police witness evidence, making better use of valuable policing resources.
'Government to work with profession in reshaping criminal law market'
... The government has accepted a recommendation made by Lord Brian Leveson to work with the legal profession in finding the “best operating model” for the criminal legal aid market... In his government-commissioned review of the criminal courts, published in February, Lord Leveson said the “sheer number” of criminal legal aid firms was “unsustainable” and there was merit in “some form of consolidation”... In their joint response, the Ministry of Justice (MoJ), Home Office and Attorney General supported his recommendation that the government work with the legal professions “to determine the best operating model of the legal aid market in the light of current conditions”. The response said this “provides an opportunity to consider changes which could sustain the sector in the longer term”...
On legal aid fees, the government said it agreed “in principle” with the recommendation that legal aid fees be reviewed every year by the MoJ and Legal Aid Agency from 2027. “This has the potential to improve financial planning of the government and legal aid providers and thereby support the market.” It agreed in principle also with a recommendation that the MoJ match-fund the police station qualification and magistrates’ court qualification training for duty solicitors, as a way to improve the number of solicitors available to take on duty work across the country. “This is subject to further evidence gathering on the impact of such a measure and decisions at the next spending review,” the response said. The government took a similar approach to Lord Leveson’s recommendation that the MoJ provide grants to fund criminal law training contracts...
Cases
R v Frederic Priestley [2026] EWCA Crim 1284
... At the sentencing hearing on 12 June 2026 the defendant and both prosecution and defence counsel were present in the courtroom, as were court staff and members of the public and the media, but the Recorder who was due to pass sentence appeared remotely by video link. The defendant had been on bail, but a custodial sentence was very likely and this would have been obvious to all concerned. Although there was an explanation for this unorthodox arrangement – we understand that the Recorder was unable to travel to court for medical reasons – counsel were never provided with it. The explanation only came to light after enquiries were made by the Presiding Judge at our instigation after the hearing of the appeal. The parties were not forewarned, and in effect counsel were presented with a fait accompli. No submissions were invited. No direction under section 51(1) of the Criminal Justice Act 2003 (“the 2003 Act”) was recorded on the digital case system...
It is not unlawful for the judge to appear remotely, and where hearings are of a purely procedural nature, and the defendant is not present, that arrangement may not create any particular difficulties. There may be circumstances in which, for example, it would be both administratively convenient and in the interests of justice for a judge sitting in one court centre to conduct a directions hearing by video link to a court centre in a different part of the country. However, the circumstances in which it would be appropriate for a judge to appear on a live link to conduct a sentencing hearing, particularly if the defendant is facing a custodial sentence, are likely to be rare. If, for good reason, the judge before whom the case has been listed is unable to attend court in person, no other judge can be substituted, and it would not be in the interests of justice to adjourn the sentencing hearing, there may be justification for taking this exceptional course, but then it is imperative to adhere to the requirements of the 2003 Act. It is also important to ensure that a clear record of what happened is kept on the digital case system...
Other
'One stolen every four minutes - inside the police battle against vehicle thieves'
It is 01:00 on a Thursday and we are in the back of an unmarked police car on the hunt for vehicle thieves in east London. A call comes in over the radio about a stolen Ford Transit van. Within 25 minutes officers have found it, chased it down and arrested a suspect. Officers tell us the night has been successful, with further arrests made, yet across the UK a car is stolen every four minutes. Despite a recent drop, vehicle thefts are up almost 50% in England and Wales compared with a decade ago, according to Home Office data. Last year, just 3% of vehicle theft offences resulted in a charge or summons...