Fragmented delivery and a lack of strategic support have meant justice devolution in the north has “stalled”, despite Labour’s pre-election pledge for a “devolution revolution”, according to the northern division of law reform charity Justice.
A recent report titled 'Closer to Home: Principles for a Justice System Shaped by Communities' has highlighted growing concerns regarding the state of the justice system in the north of England. The law reform charity Justice argues that the current legal framework is struggling to keep pace with uneven outcomes, and that efforts to devolve justice powers have effectively stalled.
According to the report, fragmented delivery of justice services and a lack of strategic backing from Westminster have hindered progress, despite earlier political commitments to increase local control. The research, which included extensive interviews with stakeholders such as lawyers, police, academics, and community organizations, identifies critical issues, including imbalanced imprisonment rates and the concentration of certain crimes, which suggest that the north is falling behind other regions. Many participants in the research described their local areas as 'forgotten,' pointing to a perceived imbalance in how justice services are delivered and supported.
Despite these systemic challenges, the report notes instances of success, such as initiatives in Liverpool where changes to case prioritization have successfully reduced the time between charge and trial by over 100 days compared to the national average. Fiona Rutherford, Chief Executive of Justice, stated that the north demonstrates the potential for positive outcomes when local leaders and communities work in collaboration.
However, Rutherford emphasized that national government support remains essential to sustain this progress. The report concludes by setting out eight core principles for effective justice devolution, advocating for long-term funding, genuine local consultation, and the design of systems tailored to specific community needs.
