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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Politics
Jessica Elgot Deputy political editor

MoJ to remove right to trial by jury for thousands of cases in controversial overhaul

Courts minister Sarah Sackman.
Courts minister Sarah Sackman says drug dealers and career criminals are ‘laughing in the dock’ knowing cases can take years to come to trial. Photograph: Graeme Robertson/The Guardian

Criminals will be stopped from “gaming the system” by choosing trial by jury in order to increase the chances of proceedings collapsing, the courts minister has said, promising to enact radical changes to limit jury trials by the next election.

Drug dealers and career criminals were “laughing in the dock” knowing cases can take years to come to trial, Sarah Sackman said, while warning that inaction would be a road to “chaos and ruin”.

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