The government unveiled a Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts Bill in Parliament this week.
The contents range from longer mandatory sentences for sexual and violent offenders and safeguards on sports coaches and religious leaders who work with young people, to new police powers on stop and search and to restrict protests.
Bar chair Derek Sweeting QC said: ‘A crackdown on crime will mean more work for hard pressed courts and those who work in them. Decades of underfunding and mounting backlogs will not be turned around by increases in police numbers and tougher sentences.’
