The facts, as lawyers say, are not in dispute. No one, not even the Conservative opposition that bequeathed the mess, seriously argues that all is well in Britain’s criminal justice system.
Our prisons are overcrowded, and the courts are overwhelmed by an appalling backlog of cases. Even with an emergency programme of early releases forced on Labour ministers when they took over in 2024, the situation remains deeply unsatisfactory – and, to anyone looking at it with any compassion, unsustainable. It is distressing to victims and the public alike, as well as dedicated legal professionals.
