00:01Justice system leaders say Magistrates Courts nearly had to pause hearings after prisons
00:06became overwhelmed following the 2024 riots. Senior judges and Ministry of Justice officials
00:13discussed suspending new cases so no more defendants would be sent to already full
00:17prisons. Hundreds of people accused of rioting, attacking police and setting fires were held
00:24in custody after first appearances. Lord Justice Greene, Senior Presiding Judge
00:29for England and Wales, told a legal audience the system approached Crisis Point but did
00:34not collapse. He said police, prosecutors, courts and prisons worked closely to share
00:39evidence and manage the surge in cases.
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