Labour MPs propose specialist sexual offences courts to help trials backlog

An amendment from Charlotte Nichols (above) and Stella Creasy would set up specialist courts with time limits for cases to be prepared and fixed trial dates. Photograph: Martin Godwin/The Guardian

Labour MPs are hoping to hijack plans to cut back on jury trials in England and Wales by proposing specialist courts for sexual offences with fixed dates for trial.

Those behind the amendment want to block the wider plan to stop thousands of cases being potentially eligible for jury trials – a measure ministers say is needed to cut court backlogs – and they say the specialist courts alone could still solve much of the problem.