Bar Council chairman Barbara Mills criticizes David Lammy for mismanaging court IT systems in England and Wales

Justice Secretary David Lammy is facing calls to get his department under control before pursuing controversial plans that could see judges handle nearly all cases, sidelining juries.

Critics argue the proposal, intended to reduce trial backlogs and save money, risks undermining centuries-old rights without addressing deeper issues in the justice system.

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Justice’s own accounts reveal massive losses totalling £71 million in 2024-25, more than double the previous year.

Millions of that came from failed IT projects, including the notorious Video Hearings Service.

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Video System Failure Costs Millions

The Video Hearings Service, or VHS, was designed to allow remote hearings and virtual consultation rooms for lawyers.

Piloted in a few courts in late 2019, it was never ready for nationwide rollout when the pandemic hit, forcing the adoption of a different system called Cloud Video Platform.

Even after years of development, VHS had to be taken offline last summer due to technical problems, and HM Courts & Tribunals Service (HMCTS) decided in May 2025 to abandon it completely, writing off £3.6 million.

A previous decision to stick with the existing digital case management system rather than pursuing the delayed Common Platform project cost another £5.6 million.

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Opposition Warns Against Sacrificing Longstanding Rights

Shadow Justice Secretary Robert Jenrick was scathing in his criticism.

“Instead of depriving British citizens of ancient liberties, Calamity Lammy should get his own department in order,” he said, warning that scrapping jury trials because of administrative failure is unacceptable after 800 years of tradition.

Bar Council chairman Barbara Mills KC echoed this, pointing to years of IT problems affecting the entire justice sector.

“The Ministry of Justice has a poor track record when it comes to reform, digitisation and procurement.

Millions were wasted on VHS and Common Platform. A full audit of IT systems is needed before any more resources are spent,” she said.

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Law Society Calls for Transparency and Learning

Mark Evans, president of the Law Society of England and Wales, acknowledged that not all technology projects succeed but stressed the importance of transparency.

“Reliable technology is key to improving efficiency in our justice system.

HMCTS must be open about its decisions and learn from these experiences,” he said.

Evans also questioned why the department did not recognise the project’s failure sooner, especially given the chronic underfunding of courts.

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Ministry of Justice Responds

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson defended the decision to abandon VHS, saying the system was taken offline due to unresolved technical issues rather than additional spending.

“System reforms are about delivering justice, not saving money.

We will continue to take tough decisions to ensure every pound is spent where it makes the most difference,” the spokesperson said.

For now, Lammy is expected to unveil his plans this week, which could reshape how trials are conducted across England and Wales — but with critics urging that fixing fundamental IT and administrative problems must come first.