Birmingham Law Society was invited to contribute to a Channel 4 News segment on Wednesday 9th July in response to the publication of the Leveson Report on criminal court reform.
Matt O’Brien, Vice President and Chair of the Criminal Law Committee, gave a 15-minute interview to the programme. Although the broadcast was necessarily edited for time, Mr O’Brien addressed a wide range of issues raised by the report — both positive and concerning.
The Society welcomes many of the recommendations within the report. However, particular concern was raised about the proposal to introduce a new “Crown Court Bench Division” — effectively an intermediate court — which would remove the right to jury trial for a substantial category of cases.
Speaking later, Mr O’Brien commented, “We were pleased to see the report acknowledge what practitioners have long known: that the criminal justice system is experiencing severe problems due to decades of underfunding at every level.”
“Delays in listing trials cause serious hardship for complainants, witnesses and defendants, and undermine public confidence in the justice system. It is positive that the report recognises the scale of the challenge — and calls for significant investment and radical change.”
“Trial by jury is not a procedural luxury; it is a fundamental safeguard against state power. None of the practitioners I’ve spoken to see juries themselves as a cause of significant delay in the system. Restricting that right would be a serious constitutional shift and must not be undertaken lightly.”
Birmingham Law Society remains committed to representing the voice of the profession and the wider public in debates about the future of the justice system. While there is agreement that radical reform is needed, the Society stresses that true reform must start with robust investment in the existing Crown Court system, not the creation of parallel structures that risk weakening vital safeguards.
Although only a short extract from the interview was broadcast, BLS is proud to have been invited to contribute to national debate on this issue, joining the voices of The Law Society of England and Wales, and the Bar Council.
The segment can be viewed here.
For press enquiries or to read our recent consultation responses, contact info@birminghamlawsociety.co.uk.