Cutting jury trials risks ‘undermining justice’ for abused women and girls, Lammy warned

The letter also raised the issue of diversity, saying that only 36% of circuit judges who sit in crown court cases are women, and 10% are from ethnic minorities. Photograph: Andrew Aitchison/Alamy

Thirty organisations representing victims of violence against women and girls (VAWG) have written to the justice secretary, David Lammy, urging him to drop plans to significantly reduce the number of jury trials.

The groups said that the proposals, which will affect court cases in England and Wales, will deepen mistrust in the justice system among victims and distract from measures designed to reduce offending.