Starmer urged to take charge of courts crisis with system ‘on brink of collapse’

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A retired senior judge has urged the Prime Minister to take direct leadership over the escalating crisis within the UK’s courts system and has pushed for a radical transformation of the criminal justice system.

Sir Brian Leveson, who was appointed by the government last year to conduct an independent review amid spiralling court backlogs and prisons reaching maximum capacity, presented his second set of findings on Wednesday.

The former Court of Appeal judge’s recommendations include the establishment of a new position: a Prime Minister’s criminal justice adviser.

This role would be central to government operations, tasked with overseeing the work of courts, prisons, prosecutors, and police.

Sir Brian’s comprehensive report, which exceeds 700 pages, outlines more than 130 proposals designed to rectify the systemic issues plaguing the justice system.

“I have never seen pressure on the courts at such an unacceptable level – the system stands on the brink of collapse,” he said.

“Victims, witnesses and defendants are waiting months, sometimes years, for cases to come to trial – unable to move on with their lives.

“System-wide inefficiency is und