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The Telegraph
The abuse trial was delayed for ten months because the courts failed to make the construction Covid-compliant
A criminal trial was delayed ten months because Crown Court staff did not order any Plexiglas screens to ensure the building was Covid compliant. The case, which involves two defendants who were charged with 42 crimes of abuse, was to take place in September this year at the Inner London Crown Court. But the victim, who had first gone to the police in December 2016, was shocked when she was told that the trial had been postponed until June 2021. Her Majesty’s Courts and Tribunals Service (HMCTS) said the reason of the delay was because the court “had not obtained the Plexiglas screens to allow the court to operate under Covid measures.” After the victim complained about the length of the delay, the trial was brought forward and is now expected to take place in February. The victim said: “The wait for justice has been agonizing. I have cooperated as much as I could with the police and have overcome all their obstacles, but it is taking me just over four years to bring my abusers to trial.” Details of the case emerged in a letter from Sadiq Khan, the mayor of London, to Robert Buckland, the attorney general, highlighting the crisis in the courts due to the large backlog of cases. In the letter, Mr. Khan demands urgent action from the Government, warning: “By delaying access to justice, we are in fact denying justice.” The Crown Court case waiting list is expected to reach 50,000 by the end of the year and experts warned that the backlog could rise to 200,000 by 2024. Khan said London has been disproportionately affected by the delays and has applied for urgent funds to ensure justice continues in the capital. Dame Cressida Dick, the Met Commissioner, has also spoken of her concern about the looming crisis. A Scotland Yard spokesperson said: “Delays in the criminal justice system are a concern and the Met recognizes the subsequent impact this has on victims.” Officers are committed to solving these complex problems, ensuring that those affected by crime in London are supported throughout the investigation process and have access to justice. The spokesperson added: “The Met will continue to work closely with the Government and the CPS to take action in areas that will address these delays and provide victims and witnesses with rapid access to justice.” A spokesperson for the HM Courts and Tribunals Service said: “The backlog of magistrates continues to decline and cases resolved in the Crown Courts have tripled since April. We continue to increase capacity by investing £ 110 million in a variety of measures, including the recruitment of 1,600 new employees and the upcoming opening of several more Nightingale Courts, with two already in London. “These efforts will be bolstered by an additional £ 337 million to provide faster justice and support for victims, while £ 76 million will further increase capacity in family courts and courts.”
