JURY trials switching to a wartime reduced number, from 12 to 7, have been proposed as a way to help to deal with the courts’ backlog.

But Worcester’s MP has said he understood it was not a measure the Department of Justice (DoJ) was currently considering.

All four of Her Majesty’s Justice Chief Inspectors recently united to express “grave concerns” about the potential long-term impact of the backlog which has soared to 53,000 cases nationally during the pandemic, while charities have expressed concerns for victims waiting for justice.

Labour has put forward the seven people jury system, saying it could also help reduce the likelihood of jurors becoming infected with coronavirus while attending court

The opposition claims victims of rape, murder, domestic abuse, robbery and assault are facing delays of up to four years in getting justice.

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Worcester MP Robin Walker said: “I had a meeting with the judiciary where they went through some of the options they were looking at, such as super courts.

“Reducing the size of juries was not one of those being looked at, and it is not being looked at, at the moment that I am aware of.

"I know the DofJ is really keen to get the courts moving more quickly and that we do address some of the backlog. It is important jury trials are enabled to happen.”

We recently reported high profile cases at Worcester Crown Court, including murder and rape trials, had been among the casualties of the pandemic.

Among the cases delayed has been the murder trial of Martin Saberi, 53, that was delayed until February this year because of the pandemic.

Saberi is accused of the murder of a transgender woman - 51-year-old Amy Griffiths - said to have taken place in a flat in Chalverton Court, Droitwich between January 11 and January 14, 2019.

And some cases, like that of Worcester’s Tim Bird, were delayed because defendants themselves said they were self-isolating due to developing Covid-19 symptoms.

The 27-year-old admitted two counts of assault occasioning actual bodily harm in Worcester against his ex and was jailed for three years. He missed the initial sentencing hearing because of reporting symptoms.