On the 18th of July, 2023, James Daly MP, a prominent member of the Justice Committee, questioned the Rt. Hon Alex Chalk KC MP, Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for the Ministry of Justice, as part of the ongoing Justice Committee proceedings.
During the session, Mr. Daly addressed the issue of prolonged delays in straightforward cases, emphasizing that "evidential cases take months to list and there is no good reason for that."
He further highlighted the need for reform in charging rates, stating, "Most charging out rates in this country for offenses are well below 10%. If we actually charge people at a proper rate, the amount of work coming through the court would be monumental compared to what you got now, and therefore if we can’t deal with what we got now, compared to the number of cases, I think we have some problems."
One of the critical concerns raised by Mr. Daly was the prolonged incarceration of criminals in the case of IPP (Imprisonment for Public Protection). He expressed, "There is very clear evidence which is contained within our report… that mental deterioration with the nature of this sentence is linked very closely. What my concern, Lord Chancellor, is that we are getting away from people being a threat to the public and keeping people locked up because they have mental health conditions... I think some of the 1,355 offenders are not a threat and are in there because of the impact the sentences have had on them… It really bothers me." Moreover, Mr. Daly continued, "We have heard evidence… that when these people are released, the conditions that are put on them, in many cases, do not have any relationship to the alleged threat they pose to the public."
In response to Mr. Daly's statements, Lord Chancellor Alex Chalk affirmed that, "There is merit in what you have written as a committee, if I may respectfully say so, and that is getting a very careful and developed consideration."
