England and Wales's Victims' Commissioner has issued a stark warning that the justice system is teetering on the edge of collapse, with a potential government U-turn on jury trial reforms threatening to plunge it into chaos.
A System on the Brink
In an exclusive interview, Claire Waxman stated that Justice Secretary David Lammy must stand firm against critics within parliament and the legal profession over plans to limit jury trials. She argued that without these changes, the courts backlog could spiral to over 125,000 cases, creating a severe public safety crisis. "Victims will not stay six, seven years in the justice process," Waxman said. "The justice system will no longer function, it will collapse, it is already on the brink."
Waxman expressed disappointment that the proposed changes to jury trials had generated more opposition than other elements of the government's sentencing bill, such as early release for recalled prisoners and the abolition of most short sentences. She fears that backtracking on the reforms would directly undermine Labour's key manifesto promise to halve violence against women and girls within a decade.
Dire Consequences of Delay
The commissioner described the "devastating impact" that current delays, crumbling court infrastructure, and last-minute trial adjournments are having on victims. She revealed that some victims have been pushed to the point of considering suicide due to the interminable waits. "This isn't humane," Waxman stated. "We have to do something differently."
She was blunt about the state of the court estate, citing leaks, faulty heating, and inadequate witness facilities that left her feeling "embarrassed." When asked if she was proud of the justice system in England and Wales, she replied: "No. I'm proud of the people who work in it... but they're doing it because they care so deeply."
Public Safety at Risk
Waxman also raised serious concerns about the broader sentencing bill, designed to alleviate dire prison overcrowding. She warned that releasing more offenders early and suspending short sentences could work against the goal of reducing violence against women if proper safeguards are not implemented. "That's a reality. It does undermine it," she argued.
She is seeking urgent clarification from ministers this week, fearing that the reforms could leave domestic abuse victims in danger. "There are measures in that bill that really alarm me from a public safety perspective," Waxman said, noting that the bill appeared driven by necessity rather than a core focus on public safety.
Drawing on her personal experience as a stalking victim over two decades, Waxman emphasised that short prison sentences can provide a "critical window of respite" for victims of domestic abuse and stalking.
While acknowledging Prime Minister Keir Starmer's commitment to tackling violence against women and girls, Waxman echoed campaigners' concerns that the government's strategy, launched in December, is "seriously underfunded." She also highlighted that her own office is too small to effectively use its statutory powers to ensure agencies like the police and CPS comply with the Victims' Code.
