UK: Pleading guilty online leads to fears over open justice
Guilty by email leads to fears over open justice
By Martin Evans, crime correspondent 26 DECEMBER 2016 • 11:45PM
Proposals allowing people to plead guilty to minor
offences online could erode the principle of open justice, campaigners have
warned.
Changes to the Prisons and Court Reform Bill could see up
to 900,000 people who are charged with offences such as fare dodging and
traffic violations, circumvent the courts system by pleading guilty remotely.
They would also be able to accept the conviction and pay
the fine, all at the touch of a button.
The idea is to save money, streamline the system and free
up magistrates courts to deal with more serious offences.
But critics fear the proposals could be the thin end of
the wedge and could seriously erode the principle of justice needing to be seen
to be done.
The Magistrates' Association has warned that a shift away
from legal hearing taking place in open court in from of the judiciary may be
"unpalatable for many people" and could "lower confidence in the
criminal justice system".
Malcolm Richardson, who chairs the association said:
"We are concerned about the principle of handling entire criminal cases
without the involvement of independent judicial decision makers.
"A core principle of our system is that justice is
seen to be done and we don't see how clicking a button and staring at a
computer screen with no judicial involvement represents that."
The proposals would initially only cover minor motoring
offences, fare dodging and fishing without a licence, but if successful the
system could be rolled out to also include TV licence evasion and fly-tipping.
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