Research conducted by Crest Advisory, the UK’s only consultancy dedicated to crime and justice, shows that the measure the public most supports for reducing backlogs in the courts is increased sentencing powers for magistrates.
The polling data, collated October to November 2021, indicate that this has greater public backing than expanding the use of out-of-court-disposals, increasing funding to the courts and restricting jury trials to only the most serious offences.
Until the Judicial Review and Courts Act 2022 received Royal Assent earlier this year, magistrates were only able to sentence defendants to up to 12 months in custody for two separate offences. Now they can grant 12-month sentences for a single offence, magistrates are able to deal with a greater volume of cases and, so, help free up more time in the crown court and speed up justice for complainants, defendants and witnesses.
We long advocated for this change, so are glad to learn that the public also recognises its importance.
