Judicial Capacity Shortages

The Department of Justice should review the timeliness of the handling of each aspect of the prosecution system that has led to the delay in bringing those accused of causing harm to patients to trial.

The Chief Coroner should issue guidance on how to avoid the appearance of bias when assistant deputy coroners are associated with a party in a case.

The Lord Chancellor should issue guidance as to the criteria to be adopted in the appointment of assistant deputy coroners.

There should be training of those who are authorised by reason of rank to present such applications at court, and no-one should act as a substitute for a properly authorised person unless they have been appropriately trained. In any event, a copy of the Rules should be readily available in every chief inspector's office with which any officer...

There should be an amendment to the Criminal Procedure Rules which govern the process in applications for a firearms presence in court – a requirement for witness statements, sworn evidence and the taping of proceedings should all be included.

I recommend that there should be no award for exemplary damages, though it should remain open to a claimant to pursue such a claim in the courts irrespective of whether they make a claim on the scheme.