Defendants to bear brunt of previous conviction plan

CRIMINAL REVIEW: Auld to decide as profession revolts

Government plans to allow juries to hear details of a defendant's previous convictions are 'something Soviet Russia would have been proud of', solicitors have claimed, branding the move as 'astounding'.The idea is currently being looked at both by the Law Commission and Lord Justice Auld as part of his review of the criminal justice system.

Malcolm Fowler, chairman of the Law Society's criminal law committee, added that it was of note that there was no suggestion to put other information, such as disciplinary findings against police officers, before juries.It is a 'sinister trend' if changes are to be made to the system where they are perceived as helpful to the prosecution but where similar changes would not be made if they could be of assistance to defendants, Mr Fowler said.Franklin Sinclair, chairman of the Criminal Law Solicitors Association, said he was astounded by the suggestion, which he hoped 'a man as sensible as Lord Justice Auld would not consider for even one second'.

He added: 'This is a retrograde step which would take the criminal justice system back over 130 years.'According to a Home Office spokesman, any decision would be made on the basis of the reports from Lord Justice Auld and the Law Commission.Sue Allen