Government ‘considers cutting defendant rights to jury trial’
Impressed with speedy post-riots justice, ministers consider cash-saving measure.
Ministers are considering restricting defendants’ ability to choose jury trial in less serious offences, according to the Magistrates’ Association. The proposal is being advocated as one element in the Ministry Of Justice’s cash-saving drive.
Cases known as “either way offences” are most likely to be affected.
The attorney general, Dominic Grieve, has suggested that magistrates might be given greater sentencing powers, increasing the maximum term they might be able to impose from six to 12 months for a single offence.