Calls for Urgent Reform as Investigation Reveals Flaws in Single Justice Procedure Leading to Wrongful Convictions

Following a joint investigation by ITV News and the Evening Standard, which revealed how flaws within the Single Justice Procedure (SJP) were resulting in people being wrongly prosecuted behind closed doors. The former Lord Chief Justice, who oversaw the system’s introduction, is among those who are calling for an urgent reform.

An investigation by ITV News and the Evening Standard uncovered a significant number of “micro-miscarriages of justice,” mainly in DVLA and TV licensing offences, where people are being convicted despite having strong mitigating circumstances.

ITV selected 50 cases where defendants with strong extenuating circumstances had still been convicted under SJP. These were then independently reviewed by a panel of four criminal barristers including:

• Zayd Ahmed, Mountford Chambers
• Pippa Woodrow, Doughty Street Chambers
• Charlotte Godber, QEB Hollis Whiteman Chambers
• Donal Lawler, 187 Chambers.

When asked for his thoughts on the current system and the cases he reviewed, barrister Zayd Ahmed said, “Having considered the cases provided to me by ITV, the SJP is undermining the fundamental principles of justice and due process by shortcutting what all these defendants expected to be protected from, the right to a fair trial.

“It is my opinion that most of the cases I have considered should not have even gone to Court, let alone resulted in a conviction.”

Coverage

• ITV News
• ITV News (2nd Link)
• Evening Standard