Following the publication of the new Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill, Chair of the Bar, Derek Sweeting QC, said: 

“The public are entitled to expect that tackling serious crime will be a priority but politicians have to join up the dots. A crack down on crime will mean more work for hard pressed courts and those who work in them. Decades of underfunding and mounting backlogs will not be turned around by increases in police numbers and tougher sentences. Restoring confidence in the criminal justice system will require sustained investment. We hope the measures announced in the Bill will not just be cosmetic but will be matched by a real commitment to getting the justice system on its feet again and truly protecting the victims of crime.”

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