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Liverpool court cuts delays via efficiency, not fewer juries

Source: thetimes.com

TL;DR

Liverpool Crown Court cut trial delays using fast-track initiatives and plea encouragement while keeping all juries.
Average wait from charge to trial is 206 days there, against 321 days across England and Wales.
It shows ministers efficiencies can clear backlogs without restricting jury trials.

The story at a glance

Liverpool Crown Court bucks national delays through steps like Operation Expedite, launched in June 2023 to fast-track certain trials and push early guilty pleas. Resident judge Andrew Menary drives monthly meetings with judges, lawyers and staff to fix issues. The article spotlights this amid government pushes to limit juries in some Crown Court cases. Crown Court backlogs hit around 80,000 cases nationwide.

Key points

Operation Expedite targets domestic abuse and simple drug cases on bail: prosecutions flag them early, trials set within 20 weeks if not guilty, judges stress guilty plea credits for sentence cuts.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/how-one-efficient-court-cut-delays-without-cutting-juries-qg7nz6k8t)[[2]](https://cdn.prod.website-files.com/67becde70dae19a9e5ea2bc3/699dc14dd95b46045b4ae249_JUSTICE%20briefing%20-%20jury%20reform%20-%20Feb%2026.pdf)
Average wait from charge to trial: 206 days at Liverpool versus 321 days England and Wales average.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/how-one-efficient-court-cut-delays-without-cutting-juries-qg7nz6k8t)
Menary, known for hating waste but working collaboratively, holds monthly user meetings to smooth logistics.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/how-one-efficient-court-cut-delays-without-cutting-juries-qg7nz6k8t)
Example: Defendant Daniel Parker got quick listing under the scheme; his barrister praised the court as top in country.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/how-one-efficient-court-cut-delays-without-cutting-juries-qg7nz6k8t)
Other barristers call it "incredibly efficient" and well-run, crediting resident judges; never spun out of control.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/how-one-efficient-court-cut-delays-without-cutting-juries-qg7nz6k8t)

Details and context

The court tackles "cracked" trials likely to fold day one, a big delay source as gaps can't fill fast. Operation Expedite identifies them pre-plea hearing to speed resolutions or firm dates. This fits wider UK Crown Court crisis from post-covid pile-up, underfunding and listing woes.

Nationally, waits harm victims and defendants; Liverpool's model uses data for better predictions on cracks and lengths, plus flexible room swaps. It contrasts government plans for judge-only trials in less serious cases to save time.

Supporters like Bar Council say copy this before curbing juries, as investment and teamwork work here.[[3]](https://www.linkedin.com/posts/thebarcouncil_how-one-efficient-court-cut-delays-without-activity-7429237892654407680-5XKk)

Key quotes

"If all the courts were like this there’d be no backlog. It’s incredibly efficient." — Paul Becker, barrister for defendant Daniel Parker.[[1]](https://www.thetimes.com/uk/law/article/how-one-efficient-court-cut-delays-without-cutting-juries-qg7nz6k8t)
"This is the best court in the country." — Paul Becker.[[4]](https://x.com/KarlTurnerMP/status/2022978954253004999)

Why it matters

Crown Court delays of over 300 days typical leave victims in limbo, suspects on bail or remand too long, and risk case collapses, straining whole justice system. Liverpool proves targeted fixes like fast-tracking and better coordination speed justice for all there without dropping jury rights, offering a blueprint others could follow. Watch if government studies this model or pushes jury limits anyway amid ongoing backlog fights.