Rise in cases heard behind closed doors

THE number of crimes being prosecuted behind closed doors in England and Wales has risen to its highest level on record since the measures were introduced.

Last year, 787,403 criminal cases were dealt with by magistrates’ courts under the single justice procedure (SJP).

The latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures show this exceeds a previous peak of 784,325 recorded in 2019, signalling how the volume of cases being considered through the secretive process has now returned to levels similar to those seen prior to the coronavirus pandemic.

The figures comes after Justice Secretary Alex Chalk suggested the system needs reform amid concerns from magistrates.

SJP allows magistrates to handle some offences which would not result in jail time – like using a television without a licence, dodging train fares, driving without car insurance, speeding and truancy – in private rather than in open court.

Although defendants can choose to attend their hearing in person.

The number of cases handled under SJP since it came into force in April 2015 has grown gradually over the years, but fell amid lockdowns imposed during the pandemic.

Meanwhile, the Society of Editors has backed calls from the Magistrates’ Association for accredited journalists to be allowed to observe SJP sittings, arguing this was “vital” if “public confidence is to be restored in the system”.