Justice delayed . . .

I’ve just listened to an interesting BBC Radio 4 debate on the crisis in our criminal justice system, with the main problem being it is massively overloaded. This means that the average time it takes a case to come to court after a defendant has been charged is 305 days—nearly a year. That’s the average. Some cases, including serious ones can take between three and six years, during which time witnesses’ memories fade, police evidence can go missing, people die, and then if the defendant is found guilty they may leave remand prison straightaway on the grounds of already having served their time. That means the court cannot exercise any control, e.g. probation, etc. over their future behaviour. But despite the intelligent and insightful points made in the debate, the word austerity was never once mentioned. It’s almost as if the situation our justice system finds itself in is just a consequence of some evolutionary process with a bit of Covid disruption thrown in. It is worrying that the use of the a-word is beginning to be seen as a bit passé, a hackneyed term much loved by lefties, who let’s not forget were led by Corbyn into the worst election result for Labour since time began (sic). ‘Austerity’ was after all so last decade, so George Osborne. And we’re all still here aren’t we? (Some councils may not be for very much longer, their finances being so precarious, but that’s their fault innit?) Let’s not worry too much though, because when Labour gets in there will be much talk of efficiency savings and innovative solutions. Indeed, I can see an enhanced role for G4S. G4S judges anyone?