00:00Across the north of England, there are growing concerns that the justice system is struggling to keep pace with delays,
00:05uneven outcomes and calls for change coming from within the sector itself.
00:09A new report from the law reform charity Justice titled Closer to Home, Principles for a Justice System Shaped by
00:17Communities, argues that efforts to devolve justice powers have effectively stalled.
00:21The charity says fragmented delivery and limited strategic backing from Westminster have slowed progress, despite earlier political commitments to greater
00:30local control.
00:31The findings are based on interviews with a wide range of stakeholders, including lawyers, police, academics and community organisations.
00:37According to the report, measures such as imprisonment rates and concentrations of certain crimes suggest the north is falling behind
00:45other regions.
00:46Participants involved in the research frequently describe their areas as forgotten, highlighting a perceived imbalance in how justice services are
00:54delivered and support us.
00:55However, the report also points to examples of success where local initiatives have been given room to operate.
01:00At Liverpool Crown Court, changes to how cases are prioritised have reduced time between charge and trial by more than
01:07100 days compared to the national average.
01:09Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive of Justice, says the north demonstrates what is possible when local leaders and communities work together,
01:16but argues national government must do more to support that progress.
01:20The report sets out eight principles for effective justice devolution, including long-term funding, local consultation and systems designed around
01:28community needs.
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