Delays focus attention on criminal justice system

Deep-rooted changes in the criminal justice system in recent years have created complex demands which, in a number of recent cases, have led to defendants facing months of delay before trial.

Police and prosecutors admit to lengthy delays relating to the preparation of some case files, while defence lawyers have labelled the repeated adjournments “a waste of court time” and tax payer’s money.

In some cases the deferrals have been unavoidable, arising for example from requirements for additional evidence.

But in others they stem from human error or communication failures between different parts of the criminal justice system.

The Ministry for Justice, the Government Law Offices, the Gibraltar Courts Service and the Royal Gibraltar Police are working together to review the situations and identify any procedural issues that may need to be addressed.

However both the government and the RGP insist that the vast majority of cases move swiftly and efficiently through the justice system.

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