CEEFAX 2 144 Thu 17 Sep 17:58/47 ************ ************************** * *** *** ** ******** *********** ************ ** ******* * ******* 3/3 STRAW DEFENDS CHANGE TO TRIAL BY JURY Home Secretary Jack Straw has defended plans to curtail the right to trial by jury in the face of fresh criticism from the legal profession.
Mr Straw told the BBC's Today programme the proposals were designed to increase efficiency while safeguarding justice.
His comments followed a letter to the Times claiming the Government was seeking "justice on the cheap".
Among the signatories were the Bar Council, the Law Society and Liberty.
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