Judges told to push back sentencing amid prison overcrowding crisis
Magistrates have been told to consider pushing back the sentencing of criminals because of concerns about overcrowding in prisons.
Sky News has seen an internal direction sent to courts in England and Wales saying hearings due in the next two weeks should be reviewed if the defendant is currently on bail – and potentially postponed until mid-September.
Politics live: Rising energy costs ‘deeply worrying’ for families
The document, sent on Wednesday by deputy senior presiding judge Lord Justice Green, and first reported by the Times, said the direction was being made “in the context of the current challenges in our prisons”.
They added: “Where it is assessed that a custodial sentence is a possible outcome, consideration should be given to rescheduling the hearing for the shortest possible period of time, but not earlier than 10 September.
“Every case must be considered on an individual basis and decisions must be made on the basis of the interests of justice.”
Keep up with all the latest news from the UK and around the world by following Sky News
The government has already announced the standard release date for many prisoners will be brought forward – freeing up thousands of cells across the country.
But this measure is not due to come into force until 10 September, meaning the large numbers of recent riot-related convictions are putting extra immediate pressure on the prison system.
The direction from Lord Justice Green means that individuals who have been found guilty of crimes will potentially stay out of prison on bail for several more weeks.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
Starmer blames Tories for prison crisis
A government source pointed out that defendants judged to pose the most significant risk to the public will already be behind bars and this guidance does not apply to them.
The source also said courts can impose stringent bail conditions ahead of sentencing.
A Ministry of Justice spokesman said: “The new government inherited a prisons crisis, and this is yet another sign of the pressures our justice system is facing. The changes coming into force in September will bring it under control”.
Magistrates deal with crimes like assault and burglary, and have the power to hand down a maximum sentence of six months for a single offence and 12 months for multiple offences.
Earlier this week, the government triggered Operation Early Dawn – meaning defendants could be held in police cells for longer until prison space becomes available.
Czech Justice Minister Pavel Blazek resigned following backlash over his ministry’s sale of Bitcoin donated by a convicted criminal.
French prosecutors charged 25 people over a wave of crypto-related kidnappings. However, the masterminds remain at large.
Nigel Farage has successfully exploited the Commons recess to “grab the mic” and “dominate” the agenda, Harriet Harman has said.
Speaking on Sky News’ Electoral Dysfunction podcast, the Labour peer said that the Reform UK leader has been able to “get his voice heard” while government was not in “full swing”.
👉 Listen to Electoral Dysfunction on your podcast app 👈
Mr Farage used a speech this week to set himself, rather than Kemi Badenoch’s Tories, up as the main opposition to Sir Keir Starmer at the next election.
The prime minister responded on Thursday with a speech attacking the Clacton MP.
Baroness Harman said: “It’s slightly different between opposition and government because in government, the ministers have to be there the whole time.
“They’ve got to be putting legislation through and they kind of hold the mic.
“They can dominate the news media with the announcements they’re making and with the bills they’re introducing, and it’s quite hard for the opposition to get a hearing whilst the government is in full swing.
Please use Chrome browser for a more accessible video player
‘Big cuts’ to fund other Reform UK policies
“What we used to do when we were in opposition before 1997 is that as soon as there was a bank holiday and the House was not sitting, as soon as the half-term or the summer recess, we would be on an absolute war footing and dominate the airwaves because that was our opportunity.
“And I think that’s a bit of what Farage has done this week,” Harman added.
“Basically, Farage can dominate the media agenda.”
She went on: “He’s kind of stepped forward, and he’s using this moment of the House not sitting in order to actually get his voice heard.
“It’s sensible for the opposition to take the opportunity of when the House is not sitting to kind of grab the mic and that is what Nigel Farage has done.”
But Baroness Harman said it “doesn’t seem to be what Kemi Badenoch’s doing”.
She explained that the embattled leader “doesn’t seem to be grabbing the mic like Nigel Farage has” during recess, and added that “there’s greater opportunity for the opposition”.
-
Sports3 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports2 years agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway