'Forgotten' Justice system in Lancashire and north is lagging behind
A ‘Bottom up’ approach needed as Justice system in Lancashire and north lagging behind, says report.
The justice system in the north of England is falling behind, according to a report that calls for more local decision making.
Fragmented delivery and a lack of strategic support have meant justice devolution in the north has “stalled”, despite Labour’s pre-election pledge for a “devolution revolution”, according to the northern division of law reform charity Justice.The charity’s inaugural report, Closer To Home: Principles For A Justice System Shaped By Communities, set out recommendations for effective justice devolution.
Fiona Rutherford, chief executive of Justice, said: “This government came into power with the promise to give people control of what matters to them. “Yet, current Westminster focus could not be further from the task of giving communities a role in building justice systems they can trust. “The north shows what’s possible when local leaders and citizens work together to match justice services to local needs. “Justice North aims to nurture and highlight these exciting green shoots while ensuring central government creates the conditions to bring justice closer to home for us all.”
The report, based on interviews with stakeholders including lawyers, police, academics and community organisations, said measures including imprisonment rates and concentrations of particular crimes suggested that the north is falling behind other parts of the country.
It said: “The need for a more even-handed approach was reflected in conversations conducted before and during the drafting of this report, where participants frequently described their regions as ‘forgotten’. ”It highlighted examples of success from locally-led initiatives – including changes in the way cases are prioritised at Liverpool Crown Court, which have led to a wait time between charge and trial that is more than 100 days faster than the national average.
It also mentioned the Family Drug and Alcohol Court in Leeds, funded by the third sector, which deals with care proceedings involving parents with substance abuse issues and has reported savings of more than £935,000 in the financial year 2023-24. The report set out eight principles for effective justice devolution, including local consultation, long-term funding and “bottom-up design” – shaped by local need.
It said: “Justice devolution should no longer be an afterthought to constitutional reform. It must be approached deliberately: grounded in local realities, disciplined by clear principles, and supported by national conditions that enable learning, continuity and accountability. “That is the route to locally-driven, joined-up justice that improves outcomes and strengthens public confidence in the institutions that deliver it.”
The report will be officially launched on Thursday evening at the charity’s second annual Journey to Justice event in Liverpool, organised in conjunction with its longest serving corporate member, law firm Broudie Jackson Canter.
Esther Leach, managing director of Broudie Jackson Canter, said: “Justice is the bedrock on which our society is built, yet it has remained peripheral to the devolution agenda for far too long.
“We welcome the launch of this important report, which I hope will be the first step towards redressing this imbalance and ensuring that the north of England does not get left behind when it comes to the effective administration of justice.”
Speakers at Thursday’s event will include campaigners Leanne Lucas, who survived the Southport attack, and Suzanne Massey from DES Justice UK, which campaigns for those affected by a cancer-linked pregnancy drug, as well as former president of the Supreme Court Baroness Hale of Richmond and former shadow Attorney General Baroness Chakrabarti.