Overview

• Leveson’s review warns of “total system collapse” and targets a record 77,000-case Crown Court backlog that delays trials until 2029 for some victims
• The report recommends stripping the automatic right to jury trials for offences with maximum sentences of two years or less and extending judge-only trials to complex fraud and cybercrime cases
• A new intermediate court, presided over by a judge and two magistrates, would hear many offences currently tried before juries to save around 9,000 sitting days a year
• Low-tier crimes such as theft and drug possession would be routinely diverted to out-of-court disposals and early guilty-plea discounts would rise from one-third to 40 percent
• Ministry of Justice officials will consider Leveson’s package over the summer and are due to respond before drafting autumn legislation to implement agreed reforms