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150,000 'ignore court hearings' | 150,000 'ignore court hearings' |
(about 3 hours later) | |
About 150,000 people a year are failing to turn up for court appearances in England and Wales, the Magistrates' Association has said. | |
The Metropolitan Police Federation called the situation "a disgrace" and said the law needed to be changed to prevent defendants not attending court. | The Metropolitan Police Federation called the situation "a disgrace" and said the law needed to be changed to prevent defendants not attending court. |
Fears have also been raised that the situation is undermining confidence in the criminal justice system. | Fears have also been raised that the situation is undermining confidence in the criminal justice system. |
The Home Office said it was meeting its targets to combat non-attendance. | The Home Office said it was meeting its targets to combat non-attendance. |
The Magistrates' Association said 8.2% of people did not turn up for their trial in magistrates' courts in 2006. Magistrates deal with about two million cases a year. | The Magistrates' Association said 8.2% of people did not turn up for their trial in magistrates' courts in 2006. Magistrates deal with about two million cases a year. |
The Home Office said that 2.2% of trials failed to complete in the financial year to December 2006 because of defendant non-attendance. | The Home Office said that 2.2% of trials failed to complete in the financial year to December 2006 because of defendant non-attendance. |
This happens time after time in courts up and down the country and it is a disgrace Glen SmythMetropolitan Police Federation | This happens time after time in courts up and down the country and it is a disgrace Glen SmythMetropolitan Police Federation |
The figure has fallen from 5.6% in the financial year 2002 to 2003. | The figure has fallen from 5.6% in the financial year 2002 to 2003. |
Experts said there were a number of reasons why people did not turn up - from deliberately defying the courts, to people simply forgetting when they were due to appear. | Experts said there were a number of reasons why people did not turn up - from deliberately defying the courts, to people simply forgetting when they were due to appear. |
Theft victim Kathryn Allen was asked to attend the trial of the alleged thief as a witness, only to see it collapse when he did not turn up. | Theft victim Kathryn Allen was asked to attend the trial of the alleged thief as a witness, only to see it collapse when he did not turn up. |
She said she was shocked at the extent of the problem. | She said she was shocked at the extent of the problem. |
"I don't know if next time I would agree to be a witness because it seems to me that I've been the one that's been put out and not him at all," she added. | "I don't know if next time I would agree to be a witness because it seems to me that I've been the one that's been put out and not him at all," she added. |
US-style system | US-style system |
Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said officers were frustrated at the numbers of those escaping trial. | Glen Smyth, chairman of the Metropolitan Police Federation, said officers were frustrated at the numbers of those escaping trial. |
"This happens time after time in courts up and down the country and it is a disgrace," he said. | "This happens time after time in courts up and down the country and it is a disgrace," he said. |
He called for a change in the law to make it easier for officers to keep those charged with offences in custody before they appear in court. | He called for a change in the law to make it easier for officers to keep those charged with offences in custody before they appear in court. |
He also said defendants should appear in court sooner and said a US-style system where money is put up in exchange for bail should be considered. | He also said defendants should appear in court sooner and said a US-style system where money is put up in exchange for bail should be considered. |
A multi-agency Home Office group has been set up, the Defendant Attendance Steering Group, to look into the problem. | A multi-agency Home Office group has been set up, the Defendant Attendance Steering Group, to look into the problem. |
If people see, the public particularly, defendants don't turn up it will undermine their confidence in the criminal justice system John ThornhillMagistrates' Association | If people see, the public particularly, defendants don't turn up it will undermine their confidence in the criminal justice system John ThornhillMagistrates' Association |
John Thornhill, a member of the group and deputy chairman of the Magistrates' Association, said non-attendance was an "important" problem. | John Thornhill, a member of the group and deputy chairman of the Magistrates' Association, said non-attendance was an "important" problem. |
"Effectively unless magistrates decide to deal with the case there and then there are extra delays," he said. | "Effectively unless magistrates decide to deal with the case there and then there are extra delays," he said. |
"Which means problems for victims, if there are any, and witnesses. There are also cost implications because it means finding another court on another day." | "Which means problems for victims, if there are any, and witnesses. There are also cost implications because it means finding another court on another day." |
He added: "If people see, the public particularly, defendants don't turn up it will undermine their confidence in the criminal justice system." | He added: "If people see, the public particularly, defendants don't turn up it will undermine their confidence in the criminal justice system." |
Mr Thornhill said courts were using new methods to improve attendance such as texting, phoning and emailing defendants to remind them of court dates. | Mr Thornhill said courts were using new methods to improve attendance such as texting, phoning and emailing defendants to remind them of court dates. |
A Home Office spokeswoman said outstanding Fail to Appear warrants had been reduced by 48% since 2004 and they were on course to achieve the March 2007 target. | A Home Office spokeswoman said outstanding Fail to Appear warrants had been reduced by 48% since 2004 and they were on course to achieve the March 2007 target. |
She said a National Enforcement Service would be rolled out from April, which will focus on enforcement action against those who flout court orders and those who fail to turn up. | She said a National Enforcement Service would be rolled out from April, which will focus on enforcement action against those who flout court orders and those who fail to turn up. |
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