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| Criminal barristers vote to end strike over pay | Criminal barristers vote to end strike over pay |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Barristers have held a number of rallies to highlight their claims | |
| Criminal barristers in England and Wales have voted to end their long-running strike action after the government offered a new pay deal. | Criminal barristers in England and Wales have voted to end their long-running strike action after the government offered a new pay deal. |
| A total of 57% of barristers voted in a ballot to accept a 15% pay rise, the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said. | A total of 57% of barristers voted in a ballot to accept a 15% pay rise, the Criminal Bar Association (CBA) said. |
| The decision means that crown courts will begin hearing cases as normal from Tuesday. | The decision means that crown courts will begin hearing cases as normal from Tuesday. |
| Hundreds of trials have been delayed during the action. It is not clear how quickly the backlog can be reduced. | Hundreds of trials have been delayed during the action. It is not clear how quickly the backlog can be reduced. |
| The barristers had been offered a package of measures by new Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis which went much further than what had been put on the table by his predecessor, Dominic Raab. | The barristers had been offered a package of measures by new Justice Secretary Brandon Lewis which went much further than what had been put on the table by his predecessor, Dominic Raab. |
| The deal included an immediate 15% rise in fees for government-funded defence work - an independent recommendation first made to ministers almost a year ago. There was also a promise that this would apply to 60,000 cases in the unprecedented national backlog. | The deal included an immediate 15% rise in fees for government-funded defence work - an independent recommendation first made to ministers almost a year ago. There was also a promise that this would apply to 60,000 cases in the unprecedented national backlog. |
| Mr Lewis has offered additional payments for a range of court preparation work that barristers said they were not being properly paid for. | Mr Lewis has offered additional payments for a range of court preparation work that barristers said they were not being properly paid for. |
| Barristers, who originally requested a 25% pay rise, said criminal justice was falling apart due to a chronic lack of funding, arguing that ministers had to invest far more cash in order to cut the record delays to trials. | Barristers, who originally requested a 25% pay rise, said criminal justice was falling apart due to a chronic lack of funding, arguing that ministers had to invest far more cash in order to cut the record delays to trials. |
| Funding squeeze | Funding squeeze |
| The strikes began in June after years of complaints from criminal barristers that the system of legal aid - which makes up the bulk of their pay - had been "pared to the bone", resulting in cuts to their income of 35% in the last decade. | The strikes began in June after years of complaints from criminal barristers that the system of legal aid - which makes up the bulk of their pay - had been "pared to the bone", resulting in cuts to their income of 35% in the last decade. |
| The industrial action was ramped up in September when the CBA started an indefinite, uninterrupted strike. | The industrial action was ramped up in September when the CBA started an indefinite, uninterrupted strike. |
| Kirsty Brimelow, chair of the CBA, said barristers were hoping for a new relationship with the government and that ministers' treatment of the profession "will not be shabby moving forwards". | Kirsty Brimelow, chair of the CBA, said barristers were hoping for a new relationship with the government and that ministers' treatment of the profession "will not be shabby moving forwards". |
| "This offer from government is an overdue start. Its acceptance by barristers is on the basis that it is implemented - otherwise the CBA will ballot again to lift the suspension of action," Ms Brimelow warned. | "This offer from government is an overdue start. Its acceptance by barristers is on the basis that it is implemented - otherwise the CBA will ballot again to lift the suspension of action," Ms Brimelow warned. |
| Judges unlawfully releasing defendants, court hears | Judges unlawfully releasing defendants, court hears |
| Criminal prosecution delays hit record 708 days | Criminal prosecution delays hit record 708 days |
| Statistics due this week are expected to show no progress on reducing the backlogs, which mean some trials are taking more than two years to be heard. | Statistics due this week are expected to show no progress on reducing the backlogs, which mean some trials are taking more than two years to be heard. |
| Mr Lewis said: "Since starting this job five weeks ago, my priority has been to end this strike action and reduce delays for victims, and I'm glad that barristers have agreed to return to work. | Mr Lewis said: "Since starting this job five weeks ago, my priority has been to end this strike action and reduce delays for victims, and I'm glad that barristers have agreed to return to work. |
| "This breakthrough is a result of coming together and restarting what I hope to be a constructive relationship as we work to drive down the backlog and ensure victims see justice done sooner." | "This breakthrough is a result of coming together and restarting what I hope to be a constructive relationship as we work to drive down the backlog and ensure victims see justice done sooner." |
| Diana Fawcett, chief executive at the charity Victim Support, said it was positive news for victims but that more had to be done to reduce waiting times. | Diana Fawcett, chief executive at the charity Victim Support, said it was positive news for victims but that more had to be done to reduce waiting times. |
| "It's important to remember that when it comes to the huge backlogs in our courts, these strikes, and the delay caused by the pandemic are only part of the picture," she said. | "It's important to remember that when it comes to the huge backlogs in our courts, these strikes, and the delay caused by the pandemic are only part of the picture," she said. |
| "Long court delays have been an issue for nearly a decade, and are agonising for victims." | "Long court delays have been an issue for nearly a decade, and are agonising for victims." |
| The father of a sexual assault victim who has waited four years for his case to come to trial welcomed the ballot result. | The father of a sexual assault victim who has waited four years for his case to come to trial welcomed the ballot result. |
| James - not his real name - hopes the case, which has been put back until the end of November, will now go ahead. But he fears the courts backlog is now so severe the trial could be delayed again. | James - not his real name - hopes the case, which has been put back until the end of November, will now go ahead. But he fears the courts backlog is now so severe the trial could be delayed again. |
| He said the long wait has had a catastrophic effect on his son's mental health. | He said the long wait has had a catastrophic effect on his son's mental health. |
| James said: "My son's at the point where he said to me: 'I have no faith in any of this. They give us a date and crush it, every step along the way.'" |