In this third episode dealing with the Leveson Review, Daniel Oscroft, a specialist criminal barrister with over 20 years’ experience who practices from No5 Chambers, discusses the existing inefficiencies in the criminal courts system with Simon Spence KC and Kate Bex KC.  

The Leveson Review was commissioned by the Government and published on 9 July 2025. In his report, Sir Brian Leveson made a series of recommendations including limiting the right to jury trial, resolving more cases before they reach the courts, and the creation of a new Crown Court Bench Division which would see judges sit alongside two magistrates to deal with some cases without any jury present.  

Following a wide-ranging consultation with interested parties, and a survey of all practicing criminal Barristers,the CBA’s position on Part 1 of the Leveson Review has been settled and can be found here:

 The full CBA response sent to the Leveson Review on 3 February 2025, can be found here.

 Sir Brian Leveson is due to publish a second part to his review which is expected to look at how to improve efficiency within the Criminal Courts in the Autumn. 

Criminal Justice Matters is produced on behalf of the Criminal Bar Association by Adam Batstone Media &Communications

For any further information on issues raised in this series contact: James Rossiter, CBA director of Communications

07985117887

Sir Brian Leveson has published his recommendations into how changes could be made to the criminal jusitce system aimed at addressing the backlog of cases awaiting trial and taking pressure off the criminal courts.

His recommendations include limiting the right to jury trial, resolving more cases before they reach the courts and the creation of a new Crown Court Bench Division which would see judges sit alongside two magistrates to deal with some cases without any jury present.

In this episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podccast, from the Criminal Bar Association of England and Wales, Simon Spence KC, Kate Bex KC and Francis FitzGibbon KC give their response , reaction and opinions to the recommendations included in the Leveson Review.

CBA members can make their views known by taking part in the CBA member survey. More details are available via the CBA website.

Criminal Justice Matters is produced on behalf of the CBA by Adam Batstone Media & Communications

Kate Bex KC and Simon Spence KC are joined in this episode by Claire Waxman OBE who was appointed London’s first Independent Victims’ Commissioner in 2017.

Together they discuss the vexed issue of whether or not offenders should be forced to attend their sentencing hearing.

Is it a necessary part of the process? Should physical force be used to produce them at Court or threaten them with the loss of privileges in prison?  Would forcing them to attend present an opportunity for grandstanding, disruption and the further degradation of their victims?

Listen in to hear Kate, Simon and Claire discuss offenders, victims and the sentencing of those convicted of the most serious crimes.

Criminal Justice Matters is produced on behalf of the Criminal Bar Association by Adam Batstone Media & Communications

In this latest episode of Criminal Justice Matters, Kate Bex KC and Simon Spence KC are joined by former Criminal Bar Association Chair Francis FitzGibbon KC to discuss the up-coming Review of the Criminal Justice System by Sir Brian Leveson.

In late 2024, Sir Brian was appointed to consider the futureof criminal justice in England and Wales. The terms of reference suggested that radical changes were being considered. Francis Fitzgibbon KC and Jeremy Dein KCled a committee of barristers who together compiled the CBA’s comprehensive submission to the Review. Listen to this latest episode to hear Simon, Kate and Francis discuss what lies ahead for criminal justice.’

Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited on behalf of The Criminal Bar Association by Adam Batstone Media & Communications

In this latest episode of the Criminal Justice Matters podcast,

The podcast includes an extract from evidence given by the Lady Chief Justice Baroness Sue Carr in Parliament last year in which she set out how the reduction in sitting days was having a wide impact on the entire process and causing a great deal of stress to everyone involved from court staff, judges and the criminal barristers prosecuting cases in courts throughout England and Wales.

Simon and Kate are both experienced criminal silks and members of Red Lion Court Chambers in London. They have both sat as Recorders and prosecuted and defended in some of the most high profile criminal trials of recent years.

If you have issues that you would like Kate and Simon to

Criminal Justice Matters is edited and produced by Adam Batstone Media and Communications

In this third episode of Criminal Justice Matters,

 We hear more from Paul, who as we learned in Episode 2, is a man who spent four years on bail awaiting trial, and how he relied on his defence counsel to hold both his

The traumatic experiences of a rape complainant coming to court for a long delayed trial, only to cross paths with her assailant in the court car park before both were due to give evidence is recounted by Paula. We bear witness to her raw reality experienced from a chaotic justice system reeling from years of court estate cuts, despite the best efforts of judges and criminal barristers to keep witnesses calm so they can give evidence safely and fairly. 

 The impossibility of many barristers to remain practising in criminal law is explained in detail by former Resident Judge at Leeds Crown Court, Peter Collier KC. He makes the link between Government decisions pre-pandemic to cut Crown Court funding which forced available court rooms to close, thus causing the throughput of trials to slow and cases to pile up.  

The current backlog of criminal cases stands at over

As our Chair Mary Prior KC concludes “Anyone can be

 Join us as we continue a real-life journey through

 Criminal Justice Matters is produced on behalf of the Criminal Bar Association by Adam Batstone Media & Communications.

For any further information on issues raised in this series contact James Rossiter, CBA director of Communications

07985117887

In this sixth episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the

This episode contains racist language which some listeners may find offensive.

Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by ⁠Adam Batstone Media & Communications⁠

In this fifth episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the

Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by ⁠Adam Batstone Media & Communications⁠

In this fourth episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the

Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by ⁠Adam Batstone Media & Communications⁠

In this third episode of Criminal Justice Matters, the

Criminal Justice Matters is produced and edited by ⁠Adam Batstone Media & Communications⁠