Sweatshops ‘swift’ action

THE Government has promised “swift action” on the scandal of Leicester sweatshops after revelations in the Sunday Mirror.

Business Minister Kelly Tolhurst said she is “deeply concerned” after we revealed that thousands of immigrant workers were being paid £3-£4 an hour.

SUSPECTS of rape, child abuse and other serious crimes are roaming free as the justice system teeters on the verge of collapse.

Long delays in cases reaching court are robbing victims of swift justice.

They are facing months and sometimes years of stress waiting to give evidence – and in some cases withdraw their complaint because of the strain.

The problems stem from the physical closure of courts – more than 200 over a 10-year period – and underfunding.

Many have been sold off for private development while others are in such disrepair they have had to close.

Those still operating are supposedly “full” when in reality they no longer operate full time because of cuts.

Lawyers blame the crisis on Government measures which have drastically reduced the number of court sessions.

FAILURE

Trials of paedophiles are in danger of being abandoned because crown court delays of more than two years render a child’s evidence unreliable.

In one case, the alleged rape of two girls aged nine will not reach court until a full three-and-a-half years after the complaint was made.

Leading criminal barrister John Lucas said: “The justice system is central to the way society works. If it fails, society as a whole fails.”

Damning examples of failure include