Recommendation 13

Given proposals to increase the complexity and seriousness of the magistrates’ courts’ caseload, the government should consider delaying the introduction of any changes to the appeals process. A delay would enable the government to assess the impact of the reforms on the magistrates’ court and to assess whether they had led to an increase in the number of appeals. A delay would also allow the government to take account of the Law Commission’s forthcoming report on criminal appeals. Finally, any 90 changes to magistrates’ appeals should only be introduced once recording of all magistrates’ court proceedings has been introduced and is proven to be operating effectively. (Recommendation, Paragraph 72)