The UK Law Society Gazette
The Crown Prosecution Service has pledged to deploy extra lawyers to deal with the expected flood of cases after a weekend of violence in cities across the UK.
Stephen Parkinson, director of public prosecutions, said he has directed CPS lawyers to make immediate charging decisions where evidence is in place and pledged that staff will be ‘working around the clock’ to ensure law and order is maintained.
Parkinson added: ‘The acts of violence seen across the country this weekend have involved criminality of the most serious kind. I want there to be no doubt about our determination to ensure that those involved will face severe consequences.
‘I am determined that we will act swiftly and robustly, giving the courts maximum ability to pass sentences that reflect what has occurred.’
Disorder has been reported over the weekend in Hull, Liverpool, Bristol, Manchester, Stoke-on-Trent and Blackpool, in England, and Belfast. Rioters have attempted to set fire to two hotels where asylum seekers were believed to be staying. It is reported that more than 150 people have been arrested since Saturday.
The Ministry of Justice indicated over the weekend that courts could sit for 24 hours to deal with the fallout from the violence, with ministers meeting with senior members of the judiciary yesterday for emergency talks. The Additional Courts Protocol, previously used following the 2011 London riots, allows courts to operate for longer hours with the agreement of the judiciary.
Any request for additional court sessions – extended hours, overnight and/or additional weekend courts – must be made with the express agreement of the relevant chief officer of police and chief Crown prosecutor.
It is understood that extended court hours are still regarded as just one option for now, with current capacity able to deal with the numbers of defendants likely to appear after recent days. But the MoJ stresses that deployment of the protocol would be a judicial decision rather than one taken by government.
A Judicial Office spokesperson said: ‘There are contingency measures in place across the criminal justice system, to handle any unexpected and exceptional increases in demand on the magistrates’ courts. This includes additional sittings of courts during regular hours which is happening now.’
Home secretary Yvette Cooper said: ‘There have already been arrests and charges but we know that that will continue and the police have our full backing.
‘I want everyone to be clear – anyone who gets involved in criminal disorder, violent thuggery on our streets will have to pay the price. And they should expect there to be arrests, prosecutions, penalties and the full force of the law, including imprisonment, travel bans and more, because it’s really important that communities can feel safe on the streets and there are consequences for breaking the law.’
