Britain plans to remove the automatic right to trial by jury for many lower-level criminal cases as part of emergency measures to address a severe court backlog and overcrowded prisons, Justice Minister David Lammy announced.

Defendants facing charges likely to result in sentences under three years would no longer be able to choose a jury trial, though jury trials would remain for serious crimes such as murder, rape, robbery and arson.

The reforms introduce new judge-only “Swift Courts,” expected to cut trial time by 20%, while magistrates’ sentencing powers would be expanded to reduce pressure on Crown Courts.

Critics, including the Bar Council, argue that years of underfunding—not jury trials—caused the crisis, and warn that removing juries will not solve delays and may undermine justice, Reuters has reported.

With about 78,000 cases awaiting jury trial and some London cases already listing into 2029–2030, the government says urgent action is needed, though the proposals still require parliamentary approval.