English Law and British Politics

Abstract

The English criminal justice system has worked on consistent principles for about five centuries;¹ the British parliamentary system is unique in having survived for three centuries (since 1660 or 1688 as preferred) without any change of government other than by constitutional means (no coups or revolutions). The judiciary and Parliament, despite the ‘sleaze’, are probably the most uncorrupt in the world. Yet reported crime has doubled between 1982 and 1997, with only one conviction for every fifty crimes. Of the cases acquitted by juries, the judges themselves were convinced that in 20 per cent of them the accused was guilty, so it may be time to consider some radical changes, especially as Parliament is closer than ever before to a consensus in dealing with crime.