A review by former High Court judge Sir Brian Leveson has been published setting out a series of proposals to reform the criminal courts with the aim of reducing the backlog of cases and demand on the Crown Court.
Police and Crime Commissioner John Campion said: “The criminal justice system is broken so it is clear change is needed. However, the Government must ensure the current system is maximised, before it breaks its current foundations.
“I welcome the calls for more investment into the Crown Courts, but the Government needs to make that money available. And the proposal to increase sitting days simply does not match the scale of the challenge in West Mercia.
“To put it into context, with more than 1,600* outstanding cases, the proposed increase of sitting days by 8% will fail to tackle the growing backlog.”
Included within the review are proposals to reduce maximum sentences by 40% for guilty pleas, as well as the removal of jury trials for some cases that would usually go through the Crown Court.
“I know communities will share my concerns about a further reduction in sentences for those already in prison as well as those facing time behind bars.
“Prison should be a deterrent, by watering down punishments, victims will question whether they have got the justice they deserve, and communities will ask whether sentences match the crime.
“The criminal justice system has been broken for a long time, and successive governments have failed to tackle it, but it’s disappointing that after a year of a Labour government it has failed to set out a long-term strategic solution with the financial backing required to deliver it.
“The Government needs to set out its vision for the criminal justice system – if it wants more people in prison, then we need investment into additional sitting days and the prison estate to increase capacity. If it wants more offenders to be rehabilitated outside the system, we need an effective out of court process. This limbo cannot continue.”
The PCC added: “The principle of a jury made up of people from our local communities is a long-standing tradition in our crown court system as they, rightly, bring the public voice into the courtroom.
“Instead, the proposals threaten to damage confidence in outcomes with a view to pushing cases through quicker, whilst at the same time reducing sentences.”
*Figure from May 2025