Criminal Court Reform

Debate between David Lammy and Pam Cox
Tuesday 2nd December 2025

(2 weeks, 4 days ago)

Commons Chamber
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David Lammy Portrait Mr Lammy
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I undertake that there will be an impact assessment at the point of legislation.

Pam Cox Portrait Pam Cox (Colchester) (Lab)
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The governance of jury trials has changed considerably over time—dramatically so in the 19th century, and again in the 1970s. In both cases, that was to improve public access to justice. Does the Lord Chancellor agree that if our traditions are to endure, including our legal traditions, they need to adapt?

David Lammy Portrait Mr Lammy
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My hon. Friend is absolutely right. Demand is soaring. Quite rightly, we are asking our police to arrest more, and we all know that smartphones, DNA, and phenotyping to tell the colour of a person’s eyes increase the workload. We have to reform the system, or we will break it.

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