Overview
- Under the proposals, defendants facing offences with a likely sentence of three years or less would be tried by a single judge in new “swift courts,” with juries reserved for the most serious crimes.
- Magistrates’ sentencing powers would rise from 12 to 18 months to keep more either‑way cases out of the Crown Court.
- Senior barristers dispute David Lammy’s repeated claim that around 60% of rape victims withdraw, citing CPS data showing roughly 8% attrition after charges are brought; the Ministry of Justice calls the criticism misleading.
- Political resistance has grown, with reports that up to 60 Labour MPs, including Angela Rayner, have criticised the plans, while legal bodies warn of risks to fairness and judicial confidence.
- A rape victim who waited three years for a jury conviction backs faster trials yet questions restricting access to juries, reflecting wider public concern reported by local media.