Michael Gove urged to stop ‘reckless and irresponsible’ destruction of Crown Court records

Last Updated: January 24, 2016By
Making a Murderer shows the ‘more transparent’ US justice system [Image: Synthesis Films].

Making a Murderer shows the ‘more transparent’ US justice system [Image: Synthesis Films].

Court transcripts are now kept digitally so there is no argument that Crown Court records take up too much space, therefore the argument in favour of retaining them to prevent miscarriages of justice is persuasive.

Will Michael Gove pay any attention at all? Doubtful.

He is, after all, Michael Gove.

Important court transcripts which could help prevent miscarriages of justice are being systematically destroyed under Government guidelines. The Secretary of State for Justice, Michael Gove, has been urged to intervene to stop the “reckless and irresponsible” destruction of Crown Court records.

Leading justice campaigners including Michael Mansfield QC, and Paddy Hill, wrongly convicted of the 1974 Birmingham pub bombings, are calling for an urgent end to the disposal rules. They argue that the records, now stored digitally, should be available indefinitely.

Serious shortcomings in the UK system have been highlighted by the television documentary series Making a Murderer, about the conviction of Steven Avery in the US for a murder he says he didn’t commit. The series revealed that defence lawyers fighting to free him from prison were able to use extensive court records from a 2005 case.

“For all the serious issues Making a Murderer reveal about the US justice system, they highlight a criminal justice process that is far more accountable and transparent than our own,” the campaigners say.

Source: Michael Gove urged to stop ‘reckless and irresponsible’ destruction of Crown Court records

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No Comments

  1. Jeffery Davies January 24, 2016 at 9:11 am - Reply

    Well he dumbed down the schools now he wants to dumb down justice it seems the torys want those norman laws back jeff3

  2. NMac January 24, 2016 at 9:34 am - Reply

    We are being governed by a bunch of moronic criminals.

  3. Terry Davies January 24, 2016 at 9:43 am - Reply

    protecting cronies from prosecution maybe.????

  4. David Woods January 24, 2016 at 9:43 am - Reply

    I bet the ones disappearing first will be MP,Lords and the rich!

    Just like all of Blair’s expense accounts were ‘accidentally’ shredded by a ‘newly hired temp’; and strangely ‘just’ before they were all exposed as light fingered thieves dipping into the public purse; and we all remember how Cherie liked to shop!

  5. David Woods January 24, 2016 at 5:36 pm - Reply

    Sorry, we can’t follow up on previous considerations on paedophile MP’s sadly all the records have unfortunately been destroyed!

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