The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 22 June 2021.
Labour first called for war-time juries of six in most cases until restrictions were lifted back in January.
But instead of taking the bold actions needed to clear the backlog, the government dithered and delayed.
The result is a record-breaking backlog, with tens of thousands of victims being denied justice and countless criminals being let off the hook.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 20 June 2021.
After a decade of Conservative incompetence and cuts has led to record-low conviction and prosecution rates for rape, the last thing victims need from the Justice Secretary is a U-turn.
The Conservatives must urgently clarify whether or not they intend to stick to the target of increasing the number of rapists who are charged and end up in court.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 10 June 2021.
The protection of women and girls from violence is one of the first duties of any government.
But the Conservatives are failing to take the actions necessary to protect them.
The Conservatives should urgently introduce whole life orders for any offender found guilty of the rape, abduction and murder of a stranger, as well as Labour’s broader package of measures to keep women and girls safe.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 2 June 2021.
Conservative mismanagement has left our prisons overcrowded and understaffed, making them hotbeds for reoffending.
The Government’s insulting treatment of prison workers is now impacting their mental health. This is putting public safety further at risk.
It is time for ministers to treat prison staff and other key workers in the justice system with the respect they deserve.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 20 May 2021.
Reports of discrimination and bullying by the Judicial Appointments Commission are very troubling but not wholly surprising.
While completing my Review into bias across the criminal justice system, I encountered resistance from the leadership of the Judicial Appointments Commission to the issues I raised. To this day, well qualified Black and ethnic minority candidates are being snubbed by what still looks like an old boys network.
It is right that the Equality and Human Rights Commission looks into these allegations. This will help determine whether the Judicial Appointments Commission is fit for purpose.
In addition the Government should set a clear, national target to achieve a representative judiciary and magistracy by 2025.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 17 May 2021.
The Conservatives are failing to protect women and girls from violent criminals, which should be one of the first duties of any government.
With record low conviction rates for perpetrators of sexual violence and an epidemic of misogyny that makes women and girls feel unsafe, this Government is treating victims of violence as an afterthought.
Enough is enough. Labour is putting tackling gender-based violence at the very top of our agenda.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, on 21 April 2021.
No judgement can ever make up for murder, but it means everything that justice has been served tonight for George Floyd.
Let this send a clear message both in the USA and across the world: Black Lives Matter.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Justice Secretary, on 8 April 2021.
The government is letting victims of crime down by allowing the Crown Court backlog to reach more than 57,000 cases for the very first time.
A decade of Conservative cuts to courts, sitting days and the whole justice system allowed the backlog to grow to a staggering 39,000 cases even before the pandemic began.
The government must now finally listen to Labour and enact the emergency measures we have been pushing for months to ensure victims do not face even worse delays.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, on 24 March 2021.
A decade of Conservative cuts to our justice system has left victims waiting years to get justice if they get it at all, while serious criminals are being let off the hook.
Delays have reached an all-time high as prosecutions for serious crimes like rape have hit an all-time low.
As this report highlights, ministers need to take urgent action to restore victims’ faith in the justice system, which has been left teetering on the brink of collapse.
The comments made by David Lammy, the Shadow Secretary of State for Justice, on 15 March 2021.
The tragic death of Sarah Everard has instigated a national demand for action to tackle violence against women.
This is no time to be rushing through poorly thought-out measures to impose disproportionate controls on free expression and the right to protest.
Now is the time to unite the country and put in place on long overdue protections for women against unacceptable violence, including action against domestic homicides, rape and street harassment. And we must tackle the misogynistic attitudes that underpin the abuse women face.
Instead, the Conservatives have brought forward a Bill that is seeking to divide the country. It is a mess, which could lead to harsher penalties for damaging a statue than for attacking a woman.
Labour will be voting against the Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill on this basis. We are calling on the Government to drop its poorly thought-out proposals and instead work with Labour to legislate to tackle violence against women which is forcing so many across the country to live in fear. As well as to deliver the important areas that are long promised, like tougher sentences for attacks on frontline workers and increased sentences for terrorists.