A Labour government would expand the role of associate prosecutors as an initial step to tackling the court backlog, according to the party’s general election manifesto published today. 

The manifesto states: ‘After 14 years of neglect, the criminal justice system is broken. Victims wait months, sometimes years, for their case to come to trial, unable to move on with their lives.

‘As an initial step to address the courts backlog, Labour will ensure more prosecutors are available by allowing associate prosecutors to work on appropriate cases.’

Associate prosecutors (APs) work in-house for the Crown Prosecution Service and can currently conduct uncontested cases in the magistrates’ courts. Some suitably trained APs are able to conduct specified contested hearings at present, up to and including trials of summary-only non-imprisonable offences.

Labour’s manifesto does not state on which other kinds of ‘appropriate cases’ APs might be permitted to work. 

The manifesto also pledges to carry out a review of court sentencing powers ‘to ensure it is brought up to date’ and to fast-track rape cases by introducing specialist courts at every Crown court location in England and Wales. The party claims it could re-allocate £5million to appoint advocates to provide free legal advice and support to rape survivors across England and Wales.

Labour also said it would introduce a new criminal offence for spiking drinks as well as a ‘Hillsborough Law’ to place a legal duty of candour on public servants and authorities.

Revenue of £565 million raised by closing a carried interest tax loophole would enable £30m to be deployed to legal aid for victims of disasters or state-related deaths.

The manifesto also proposes changes in employment law. A Labour government would introduce legislation within 100 days to ‘make work pay’.

Plans would include ‘banning exploitative zero hours contracts; ending fire and rehire; and introducing basic rights from day one to parental leave, sick pay, and protection from unfair dismissal’

A Labour government would also extend the three-month time limit within which an employee has to launch an employment tribunal claim. 

Meanwhile, ‘Britain will unequivocally remain a member of the European Convention on Human Rights.’

 

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