ONE of Britain’s most senior judges last night accused ministers of producing “half-baked” criminal justice reforms and then blaming judges for the failings of the system.

Lord Steyn, a law lord, also launched a scathing attack on ministers over the Iraq war, accusing them of “scraping the bottom of the legal barrel” to justify their case.

He said it was a “fairytale” to suggest that the Iraq war did not make London a “more dangerous place”.

His remarks came as ministers prepare another six Bills this session on criminal justice and terrorism-related offences.Since 1997 when Labour came to power there have been 12 criminal justice Acts.

Lord Steyn, opening a debate as the new chairman of Justice, the all-party human rights group, said that in the past 20 years there had been a flood of legislation about crime: it had become a political football. “Year after year half-baked ideas are adopted in haste, puffed up to be the ideal solution and routinely abandoned a year later.” The quality of the legislation had been described as “scandalous,” he said. “It is a little unfair to blame it on the judges, as politicians so frequently do.”

Lord Steyn echoed the views of Lord Alexander of Weedon, QC, his predecessor at Justice, with a robust attack on the legality of the Iraq war.

Lord Alexander’s view that the war was illegal “reflected the overwhelming view of international lawyers and was undoubtedly correct”.

Lord Steyn added that the QC was entitled to conclude that “in its search for a justification in law the Government scraped the bottom of the legal barrel”.

Earlier yesterday the Lord Chancellor sought to mollify judges over recent remarks from ministers. Lord Falconer of Thoroton said that judges should not face “undue pressure” from ministers over the outcome of court cases.

He sought to play down suggestions of another looming clash between the Government and the judiciary after Tony Blair complained that the court system was too slow and cumbersome to protect the public from thugs and drug dealers.

Lord Falconer, giving evidence to the Commons Constitutional Affairs Committee, said: “I would certainly regard my role as making sure that at no stage does the executive, by what it says publicly, put pressure or undue pressure on the judges to reach or procure results in particular cases.”

Explore UK News

• Crime News

• Education News

• Health News

• Scotland News

Times Recommends

• Charles blazes trail as sun king
• Thalidomiders win payout 50 years on
• Libel gag on talk of 'medical hurricane'