The justice system is “not fit for purpose”, a judge has complained in a courtroom outburst at the lack of police, prosecutors and court staff.
Judge Anthony Lowe, sitting at Shrewsbury crown court, made the comments after he was forced to adjourn until February a trial due to start this month.
The judge is the latest legal figure to criticise failures in the justice system. He said that the lives of witnesses and defendants were being unfairly “put on hold” by delays to trials.
He had been due to sit on the trial of a 20-year-old man for assault and possessing a weapon. Judge Lowe, 65, a recorder since 2005 and a circuit judge in the Midlands since last January, told the court: “This is
