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Michael Gove: Justice system fails society's poorest Michael Gove: Justice system fails society's poorest
(about 1 hour later)
The "creaking and outdated" justice system in England and Wales is failing society's poorest, Michael Gove has said in his first speech as justice secretary.The "creaking and outdated" justice system in England and Wales is failing society's poorest, Michael Gove has said in his first speech as justice secretary.
He said the best legal provision is the preserve of the wealthy, while victims of crime are "badly" let down.He said the best legal provision is the preserve of the wealthy, while victims of crime are "badly" let down.
Mr Gove called for an overhaul of the system, including measures to eliminate "waste and inefficiency".Mr Gove called for an overhaul of the system, including measures to eliminate "waste and inefficiency".
He said reforms are needed to end "excuses for failure" in the courtroom.He said reforms are needed to end "excuses for failure" in the courtroom.
Mr Gove has made his first speech since being appointed lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice to the Legatum Institute in Mayfair, London, on Tuesday. In his first speech since being appointed lord chancellor and secretary of state for justice last month, Mr Gove also said he would review the legal aid system amid criticism of cuts to fees made by his two predecessors, Ken Clarke and Chris Grayling.
Mr Gove - who succeeded Chris Grayling, now the leader of the Commons - was previously education secretary and then a government chief whip in the last government. Speaking at the Legatum Institute in London, the former education secretary and chief whip said that while the UK's "global reputation" for legal services is "deserved", not all of it is "world-beating", with the finest legal provision accessible only to the wealthy.
He said that while the UK's "global reputation" for legal services is "deserved", not all of it is "world-beating", with the finest legal provision accessible only to the wealthy.
"There are two nations in our justice system at present."There are two nations in our justice system at present.
"On the one hand, the wealthy, international class who can choose to settle cases in London with the gold standard of British justice. And then everyone else, who has to put up with a creaking, outdated system to see justice done in their own lives."On the one hand, the wealthy, international class who can choose to settle cases in London with the gold standard of British justice. And then everyone else, who has to put up with a creaking, outdated system to see justice done in their own lives.
"The people who are let down most badly by our justice system are those who must take part in it through no fault or desire of their own - victims and witnesses of crime, and children who have been neglected," Mr Gove said."The people who are let down most badly by our justice system are those who must take part in it through no fault or desire of their own - victims and witnesses of crime, and children who have been neglected," Mr Gove said.
Key issues in Mr Gove's briefKey issues in Mr Gove's brief
Impact of cuts to legal aid and plans for further savings - read more hereImpact of cuts to legal aid and plans for further savings - read more here
The future of the Human Rights Act and a British Bill of Rights - read more hereThe future of the Human Rights Act and a British Bill of Rights - read more here
Reforms to the court system in England and Wales - read more hereReforms to the court system in England and Wales - read more here
Changes to Freedom of Information rules - read more hereChanges to Freedom of Information rules - read more here
Penal policy: rehabilitation and the prison population - read more herePenal policy: rehabilitation and the prison population - read more here
Making the case for reform of the criminal courts, the justice secretary warned of the "human cost" of the "waste and inefficiency" in the system.Making the case for reform of the criminal courts, the justice secretary warned of the "human cost" of the "waste and inefficiency" in the system.
He said too many cases are derailed by the late arrival of prisoners, video links that do not work and missing paperwork.He said too many cases are derailed by the late arrival of prisoners, video links that do not work and missing paperwork.
"It is the poorest in our society who are disproportionately the victims of crime, and who find themselves at the mercy of this creaking and dysfunctional system," Mr Gove said."It is the poorest in our society who are disproportionately the victims of crime, and who find themselves at the mercy of this creaking and dysfunctional system," Mr Gove said.
New technology
Prosecutions should be brought more efficiently and information should exchanged by email or conference call "rather than in a series of hearings", he argued.Prosecutions should be brought more efficiently and information should exchanged by email or conference call "rather than in a series of hearings", he argued.
He also said that evidence needs be served "in a timely and effective way", as part of reforms to end "excuses for failure".He also said that evidence needs be served "in a timely and effective way", as part of reforms to end "excuses for failure".
New technology
Mr Gove said the case for change has been "made most powerfully and clearly by the judiciary themselves".Mr Gove said the case for change has been "made most powerfully and clearly by the judiciary themselves".
Senior judge Lord Justice Leveson has said the criminal justice system in England and Wales needs wide-ranging change to make it more efficient and cheaper to run.Senior judge Lord Justice Leveson has said the criminal justice system in England and Wales needs wide-ranging change to make it more efficient and cheaper to run.
He has recommended greater use of video and conferencing technology in court rooms, timetables for evidence and lawyers speeches and the use of pictures gathered by police on cameras attached to their uniforms.He has recommended greater use of video and conferencing technology in court rooms, timetables for evidence and lawyers speeches and the use of pictures gathered by police on cameras attached to their uniforms.
These innovations must be "implemented with all speed", Mr Gove said.These innovations must be "implemented with all speed", Mr Gove said.
'Wheels coming off'
Bill Waddington, the chair of the Criminal Law Solicitors' Association, said his organisation had been pointing out problems with the courts system for years.
"If you take money and resources away from from the Crown Prosecution Service, if you take money and resources away from the police, if you close courts and you also, in addition, then cut legal aid, you've taken finance that is badly needed in there, out of the system, and it starts to creak.
"It's more than starting to creak, now the wheels are falling off it."
On legal aid, Mr Gove rejected suggestions that he had been forced into a review of the changes made by Mr Grayling because of widespread opposition within the legal profession, saying it was always envisaged they would be looked at again.
"Both he and I would want to make sure that the most vulnerable always secure access to justice and secondly that we safeguard high-quality advocacy," he told the BBC.
As justice secretary, Mr Gove's responsibilities will also include implementing the Conservative Party's pledge to scrap the Human Rights Act and replace it with a British Bill of Rights.As justice secretary, Mr Gove's responsibilities will also include implementing the Conservative Party's pledge to scrap the Human Rights Act and replace it with a British Bill of Rights.
The aim is to give the UK courts and Parliament - rather than European institutions - the final say in contentious cases. 'Bemused'
The BBC's assistant political editor Norman Smith said Mr Gove - who also has responsible for penal policy - would only mention the Bill of Rights "in passing", with aides saying they wanted to take "a long, hard look" at the issue. The aim is to give the UK courts and Parliament - rather than European institutions - the final say in contentious cases but ministers have put legislation on hold pending a consultation on the way forward.
"I think it is very important we get modernising our human rights framework right and that means we need to extensively discuss and consult the with the legal profession and others," Mr Gove added.
"I want to be absolutely certain that traditional British liberties are safeguarded and enhanced and in order to get that right, we need to think hard, we need to talk openly and then legislate in a considered way."
Labour said victims of crime and injustice would be "bemused" by what they described as Mr Gove's "hand-wringing rhetoric".
"Since the Tories took office access to justice has been all but dismantled for the poorest in our society," said shadow justice secretary Lord Falconer.
"The number of social welfare cases being granted funding has plummeted, victims of domestic violence are struggling to get help, employment tribunal fees are a significant barrier to workplace justice and the essential safeguard that is judicial review has been severely restricted."