Disclosure rules could cause chaos say Law Society

The Law Society today (25 October) warned that rushing in new disclosure rules in criminal cases could cause chaos.

The society’s warning came after the Prime Minister announced that juries could be told of a defendant’s previous convictions from December.

Earlier plans were for the new measures, part of the Criminal Justice Act 2003, to be brought in next year, but the implementation has been speeded up following an order laid in Parliament today.

The Law Society’s director of strategic policy, Russell Wallman, said that implementing the changes without properly training those working in the criminal justice system could result in an “inconsistent and erratic approach”.