Justice on the cheap is justice denied - Hughes

4.53.43pm GMT Tue 23rd Jan 2007

Commenting on the Magistrates' Association letter to the Prime Minister complaining that court decisions are being made on the basis of cost not justice, Liberal Democrat Shadow Constitutional Affairs Secretary, Simon Hughes MP said:

"This is a most serious warning that the Government itself is now undermining criminal justice in this country.

"Sentences should be given because they are the correct punishment not the cheap punishment.

"Justice on the cheap is justice denied.

"On top of years of closing courts and making justice less local, government cost-cutting is now threatening access to justice and reducing the chance of the punishment fitting the crime.

"As well as reducing juries in some serious criminal cases, government policy now threatens to drive away people from becoming magistrates as well."

Applicability: this item refers to England and Wales. Due to devolution, detailed policy may be different in other areas of the UK.