Former police chief says court backlog lies behind spate of violent crime

The former chief constable of Greater Manchester Police has said a backlog of court cases caused by the pandemic is behind a spate of violent crime following the fatal stabbing of Tyson Fury’s cousin.

Rico Burton, 31, was found with stab wounds at around 3am on Sunday in Goose Green, Altrincham and subsequently died of his injuries at Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Heavyweight boxer Fury said his cousin had been “stabbed in the neck” and called for an end to knife crime and “higher sentencing” for offenders on Sunday in a social media post branding those who carry knives as “idiots”.

Sir Peter told Sky News: “The main issue is the huge backlog… There is a backlog of 58,000 cases and if you’re dealing with young criminals, crucially you get them into court quickly.

“If they are out on bail, the chances are that they’re going to commit more crime which puts more work back into the system and creates more victims.”

According to figures published by HM Courts & Tribunals Service, the Crown Court backlog increased for the third consecutive month in June, reaching 58,973 cases.

He added: “The fact is that we saw a big reduction in knife crime and violence in general during the pandemic and I think the police is still trying to work out what has happened since then.

“Have we seen a real increase in violent crime or are we just coming to a new normal?”

Fury added: “Asap, UK government needs to bring higher sentencing for knife crime, it’s a pandemic & you don’t know how bad it is until [it’s] 1 of your own!

“Life is very precious and it can be taken away very quick enjoy every moment.”

But Sir Peter said tougher sentences may not solve the problem because offenders do not consider the length of their punishment while committing a stabbing.

He said: “Absolutely harsher sentences have their part to play, but often when you’re talking about a random offence like knife crime where somebody chooses suddenly to pull out a knife, and they stab someone in the artery causing them to die, really it’s not in their mind how long of a prison sentence (they are) going to get.

“The crucial thing is that the police are out there to arrest people, they get into the court system quickly and adequate measures are put in place not only to control that person but to try and rehabilitate them.

“I think it’s that lack of capacity in the court system which will be worrying police most.”

A 17-year-old boy with stab wounds who was found injured in the same incident remains in hospital in a serious but non-life threatening condition.

Police said two men aged 21 and 20 have been arrested – one on suspicion of murder and the other on suspicion of causing grievous bodily harm with intent and murder.

Last week London Mayor Sadiq Khan suggested a spate of violent crime in the capital was due to longer days, school holidays and summer heatwaves.

The mayor of London was speaking after six homicides had been reported in the capital in less than a week, including the stabbing of 87-year-old Thomas O’Halloran in Greenford, west London, last Tuesday.