Tristan Kirk
@kirkkorner.bsky.social
Courts Editor for the Press Association
Child rape trial delayed after a plug explodes under the prosecutor's bench
Sparks flying, strong smell of burning, a lawyer lucky not to have been electrocuted
But in a sign of how we simply cope with terrible court decay, the prosecutor took a minute, moved along the bench & got on with case prep
Sparks flying, strong smell of burning, a lawyer lucky not to have been electrocuted
But in a sign of how we simply cope with terrible court decay, the prosecutor took a minute, moved along the bench & got on with case prep
January 14, 2026 at 2:40 PM
Child rape trial delayed after a plug explodes under the prosecutor's bench
Sparks flying, strong smell of burning, a lawyer lucky not to have been electrocuted
But in a sign of how we simply cope with terrible court decay, the prosecutor took a minute, moved along the bench & got on with case prep
Sparks flying, strong smell of burning, a lawyer lucky not to have been electrocuted
But in a sign of how we simply cope with terrible court decay, the prosecutor took a minute, moved along the bench & got on with case prep
Judge: "Jury service is a really vital aspect of democracy in this country, that serious cases in the Crown Court are tried by members of the public prepared to give up their time and sit in judgement of their fellow citizens.
"It's a pretty awesome responsibility."
"It's a pretty awesome responsibility."
January 14, 2026 at 11:23 AM
Judge: "Jury service is a really vital aspect of democracy in this country, that serious cases in the Crown Court are tried by members of the public prepared to give up their time and sit in judgement of their fellow citizens.
"It's a pretty awesome responsibility."
"It's a pretty awesome responsibility."
New Bar Council chair Kirsty Brimelow KC uses her inaugural speech to call for Single Justice Procedure reform
"No doubt the SJP offends fundamental principles of fairness...issuing fines to the most vulnerable people in
circumstances where they should not be prosecuted."
"No doubt the SJP offends fundamental principles of fairness...issuing fines to the most vulnerable people in
circumstances where they should not be prosecuted."
January 12, 2026 at 6:32 PM
New Bar Council chair Kirsty Brimelow KC uses her inaugural speech to call for Single Justice Procedure reform
"No doubt the SJP offends fundamental principles of fairness...issuing fines to the most vulnerable people in
circumstances where they should not be prosecuted."
"No doubt the SJP offends fundamental principles of fairness...issuing fines to the most vulnerable people in
circumstances where they should not be prosecuted."
Monday morning, the van from HMP Wormwood Scrubs hasn't arrived so the 11am sentence is delayed
Lawyers for a defendant accused of rape can't get into the cells to see him, so the 12pm trial will be delayed
And lawyers are complaining about how long it took to get into the building this morning
Lawyers for a defendant accused of rape can't get into the cells to see him, so the 12pm trial will be delayed
And lawyers are complaining about how long it took to get into the building this morning
January 12, 2026 at 11:17 AM
Monday morning, the van from HMP Wormwood Scrubs hasn't arrived so the 11am sentence is delayed
Lawyers for a defendant accused of rape can't get into the cells to see him, so the 12pm trial will be delayed
And lawyers are complaining about how long it took to get into the building this morning
Lawyers for a defendant accused of rape can't get into the cells to see him, so the 12pm trial will be delayed
And lawyers are complaining about how long it took to get into the building this morning
Three years ago, a scandal broke about energy companies & forced prepayment meters
The response to that scandal is disturbing
Magistrates now approve applications for warrants that they've never seen
And they do almost all this in secret
My PA report today:
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news...
The response to that scandal is disturbing
Magistrates now approve applications for warrants that they've never seen
And they do almost all this in secret
My PA report today:
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news...
Energy pre-payment meter update as 'secret court hearings' continue
The Chief Magistrate is reviewing how warrants are being issued
www.walesonline.co.uk
January 8, 2026 at 5:46 PM
Three years ago, a scandal broke about energy companies & forced prepayment meters
The response to that scandal is disturbing
Magistrates now approve applications for warrants that they've never seen
And they do almost all this in secret
My PA report today:
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news...
The response to that scandal is disturbing
Magistrates now approve applications for warrants that they've never seen
And they do almost all this in secret
My PA report today:
www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news...
Bedbound disabled woman struggling after cancer death of husband faces TV Licence prosecution
#SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
#SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
Bedbound disabled woman faces TV Licence prosecution
TV Licensing brought the prosecution against the woman after noting she is disabled and has mental health struggles
www.standard.co.uk
December 27, 2025 at 10:25 AM
Bedbound disabled woman struggling after cancer death of husband faces TV Licence prosecution
#SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
#SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
Today is my final day as the Standard's Courts Correspondent
After a decade, it's time for a new challenge
I'll continue to cover the courts & remain obsessed with open justice
The joy of this job has been working with very talented & hard-working people who I will miss a lot
After a decade, it's time for a new challenge
I'll continue to cover the courts & remain obsessed with open justice
The joy of this job has been working with very talented & hard-working people who I will miss a lot
December 22, 2025 at 12:02 PM
Today is my final day as the Standard's Courts Correspondent
After a decade, it's time for a new challenge
I'll continue to cover the courts & remain obsessed with open justice
The joy of this job has been working with very talented & hard-working people who I will miss a lot
After a decade, it's time for a new challenge
I'll continue to cover the courts & remain obsessed with open justice
The joy of this job has been working with very talented & hard-working people who I will miss a lot
Disturbing findings from a year-long @thelondonstandard.bsky.social investigation
- Magistrates routinely sit in secret to approve utility warrants
- They don't even look at most applications
- Rule breaches aren't investigated
Chief Magistrate looking into this
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/magi...
- Magistrates routinely sit in secret to approve utility warrants
- They don't even look at most applications
- Rule breaches aren't investigated
Chief Magistrate looking into this
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/magi...
Fresh fury over secret courts allowing energy firms break into homes
The Chief Magistrate is investigating after concerns about the utility warrant system were uncovered by The Standard
www.standard.co.uk
December 22, 2025 at 9:42 AM
Disturbing findings from a year-long @thelondonstandard.bsky.social investigation
- Magistrates routinely sit in secret to approve utility warrants
- They don't even look at most applications
- Rule breaches aren't investigated
Chief Magistrate looking into this
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/magi...
- Magistrates routinely sit in secret to approve utility warrants
- They don't even look at most applications
- Rule breaches aren't investigated
Chief Magistrate looking into this
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/magi...
Empty docks, shuttered courtrooms, missing evidence - The real reasons for London’s crippling court delays
My long read for @thelondonstandard.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
My long read for @thelondonstandard.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
Revealed: The real reason for London’s crippling court delays
Labour is bringing the axe down on jury trials, but people in court tell a different story of where the chronic delays come from
www.standard.co.uk
December 20, 2025 at 10:52 AM
Empty docks, shuttered courtrooms, missing evidence - The real reasons for London’s crippling court delays
My long read for @thelondonstandard.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
My long read for @thelondonstandard.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/london/...
A mugger who spent a week robbing people on the Tube is in the dock to be sentenced
Judge is here, lawyers are here, police are here, probation is here. I'm here
But the interpreter is not here
Adjourned to Jan
That's actual delay in the justice system
Someone should fix it
Judge is here, lawyers are here, police are here, probation is here. I'm here
But the interpreter is not here
Adjourned to Jan
That's actual delay in the justice system
Someone should fix it
December 18, 2025 at 4:39 PM
A mugger who spent a week robbing people on the Tube is in the dock to be sentenced
Judge is here, lawyers are here, police are here, probation is here. I'm here
But the interpreter is not here
Adjourned to Jan
That's actual delay in the justice system
Someone should fix it
Judge is here, lawyers are here, police are here, probation is here. I'm here
But the interpreter is not here
Adjourned to Jan
That's actual delay in the justice system
Someone should fix it
Beware fast-track justice. This is what it does
The mum is bounced around, getting no help or answers, then just enters a guilty plea for her distressed autistic teenage son to get it over with
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/a...
The mum is bounced around, getting no help or answers, then just enters a guilty plea for her distressed autistic teenage son to get it over with
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/a...
Harsh justice: Autistic teen convicted of not insuring moped he didn't use
The boy’s mother told the court she is “deeply disappointed” at his treatment
www.standard.co.uk
December 13, 2025 at 10:59 AM
Beware fast-track justice. This is what it does
The mum is bounced around, getting no help or answers, then just enters a guilty plea for her distressed autistic teenage son to get it over with
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/a...
The mum is bounced around, getting no help or answers, then just enters a guilty plea for her distressed autistic teenage son to get it over with
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/a...
Bedbound pensioner, 84, gets criminal conviction over car insurance
It's a harsh illustration of the broken justice system
When will MPs step up and fix it?
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
It's a harsh illustration of the broken justice system
When will MPs step up and fix it?
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
Bedbound pensioner, 84, convicted of not insuring car she'll never use again
An 84-year-old woman who is bedbound and reliant on daily care has been convicted of a driving offence after failing to insure a car she will never drive again
www.standard.co.uk
December 6, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Bedbound pensioner, 84, gets criminal conviction over car insurance
It's a harsh illustration of the broken justice system
When will MPs step up and fix it?
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
It's a harsh illustration of the broken justice system
When will MPs step up and fix it?
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
A pensioner with dementia gets a criminal conviction over an unpaid TV Licence
This one is pretty heartbreaking
The #SingleJusticeProcedure is broken
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
This one is pretty heartbreaking
The #SingleJusticeProcedure is broken
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
Pensioner with dementia convicted over unpaid TV Licence bill
Ailing pensioners, people with mental health struggles, grieving families and children have all been caught up in the Single Justice Procedure scandal
www.standard.co.uk
November 29, 2025 at 9:47 AM
A pensioner with dementia gets a criminal conviction over an unpaid TV Licence
This one is pretty heartbreaking
The #SingleJusticeProcedure is broken
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
This one is pretty heartbreaking
The #SingleJusticeProcedure is broken
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
Teenager prosecuted over £1.67 in unpaid tax on a car.
A criminal conviction for an offence that happened before she knew she even owned a car.
Infuriating that this kind of thing is still happening
Labour has failed to fix the #SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
A criminal conviction for an offence that happened before she knew she even owned a car.
Infuriating that this kind of thing is still happening
Labour has failed to fix the #SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
Teenager convicted over £1.67 unpaid tax bill for 18th birthday gift
The prosecution of the teenager happened in the controversial Single Justice Procedure
www.standard.co.uk
November 22, 2025 at 9:47 AM
Teenager prosecuted over £1.67 in unpaid tax on a car.
A criminal conviction for an offence that happened before she knew she even owned a car.
Infuriating that this kind of thing is still happening
Labour has failed to fix the #SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
A criminal conviction for an offence that happened before she knew she even owned a car.
Infuriating that this kind of thing is still happening
Labour has failed to fix the #SingleJusticeProcedure
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
Ex-Reform UK leader in Wales jailed for ten-and-a-half years for taking Russian bribes
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/r...
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/r...
Ex-Reform UK leader in Wales jailed at Old Bailey over Russia bribes
Nathan Gill admitted taking bribes to make pro-Russia statements in the European Parliament
www.standard.co.uk
November 21, 2025 at 12:59 PM
Ex-Reform UK leader in Wales jailed for ten-and-a-half years for taking Russian bribes
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/r...
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/r...
Earl Spencer stalker posed as BBC podcaster in 'fixated' pursuit of the aristocrat and his son
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/earl...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/earl...
Earl Spencer stalker who posed as BBC podcaster handed court ban
Earl Spencer told the court how he was ambushed by Michelle Akpata at a book signing
www.standard.co.uk
November 20, 2025 at 2:51 PM
Earl Spencer stalker posed as BBC podcaster in 'fixated' pursuit of the aristocrat and his son
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/earl...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/earl...
Always a delight to get an invite from @quietriotpod.bsky.social
Problems in justice go beyond crumbling courts to the disintegration of the fabric of the system
And politicians aren't being honest with the public about how to fix it
Have a listen!
Problems in justice go beyond crumbling courts to the disintegration of the fabric of the system
And politicians aren't being honest with the public about how to fix it
Have a listen!
NEW EPISODE: CRIME & BANISHMENT
😱 Is anyone NOT challenging Starmer's position?
👮 Just how broken is our justice system? (Spoiler: very)
🎄Trees: Sneaky evergreen wokeness klaxon
With guest @kirkkorner.bsky.social.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/54hc...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
😱 Is anyone NOT challenging Starmer's position?
👮 Just how broken is our justice system? (Spoiler: very)
🎄Trees: Sneaky evergreen wokeness klaxon
With guest @kirkkorner.bsky.social.
🎧 open.spotify.com/episode/54hc...
🍏 podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/q...
Crime and Banishment
Podcast Episode · Quiet Riot · 20/11/2025 · 1h 11m
podcasts.apple.com
November 20, 2025 at 12:17 PM
Always a delight to get an invite from @quietriotpod.bsky.social
Problems in justice go beyond crumbling courts to the disintegration of the fabric of the system
And politicians aren't being honest with the public about how to fix it
Have a listen!
Problems in justice go beyond crumbling courts to the disintegration of the fabric of the system
And politicians aren't being honest with the public about how to fix it
Have a listen!
Excl: Earl Spencer came face-to-face with a suspected stalker who was "fixated" on meeting his son
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/earl...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/earl...
Earl Spencer's shock after coming face to face with 'stalker'
Exclusive: Michelle Akpata spent months bombarded the Spencer family and staff at their Althorp estate with requests for a meeting with Viscount Louis Spencer
www.standard.co.uk
November 18, 2025 at 8:09 AM
Excl: Earl Spencer came face-to-face with a suspected stalker who was "fixated" on meeting his son
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/earl...
www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/earl...
Losing a loved one is hard. Coping with grief is harder for some than others.
In a compassionate society, a grieving person with mental health struggles who hasn’t paid a household bill would be helped, not convicted of a crime
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
In a compassionate society, a grieving person with mental health struggles who hasn’t paid a household bill would be helped, not convicted of a crime
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
Grieving daughter convicted over unpaid TV Licence
A grieving woman with mental health problems is the latest case to emerge from the Single Justice Procedure
www.standard.co.uk
November 8, 2025 at 11:52 AM
Losing a loved one is hard. Coping with grief is harder for some than others.
In a compassionate society, a grieving person with mental health struggles who hasn’t paid a household bill would be helped, not convicted of a crime
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
In a compassionate society, a grieving person with mental health struggles who hasn’t paid a household bill would be helped, not convicted of a crime
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/t...
I was in court today for a hearing of the prisoner accidentally set free from jail. He wasn't there.
It is a case study in the terrible communication between prisons, courts, and the immigration system. Absolutely atrocious, but equally not that surprising
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
It is a case study in the terrible communication between prisons, courts, and the immigration system. Absolutely atrocious, but equally not that surprising
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
Accidentally freed prisoner was given bail from immigration centre
Judge Rosa Dean ordered prosecutors to provide more information on Brahim Kaddour-Cherif
www.standard.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 8:29 PM
I was in court today for a hearing of the prisoner accidentally set free from jail. He wasn't there.
It is a case study in the terrible communication between prisons, courts, and the immigration system. Absolutely atrocious, but equally not that surprising
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
It is a case study in the terrible communication between prisons, courts, and the immigration system. Absolutely atrocious, but equally not that surprising
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/p...
The Criminal Justice System in this country is fundamentally broken. Trials will soon be set in 2030, victims are losing faith, prisons are full, and crimes may be going unsolved
My long read for this week's @thelondonstandard.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/b...
My long read for this week's @thelondonstandard.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/b...
Tipping Point: Inside Britain's broken justice system
Trials delayed until 2030, victims and defendants’ lives on hold, buildings without running water. Courts correspondent Tristan Kirk reports on a shameful decline
www.standard.co.uk
November 6, 2025 at 1:11 PM
The Criminal Justice System in this country is fundamentally broken. Trials will soon be set in 2030, victims are losing faith, prisons are full, and crimes may be going unsolved
My long read for this week's @thelondonstandard.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/b...
My long read for this week's @thelondonstandard.bsky.social
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/b...
I'm writing today about the broken Criminal Justice System
For a boost, I bought a coffee from the Old Bailey's canteen, which was downgraded recently to a vending machine
The machine promised an overpriced latte, then spewed out a black coffee with no milk
Is this the metaphor my article needs?
For a boost, I bought a coffee from the Old Bailey's canteen, which was downgraded recently to a vending machine
The machine promised an overpriced latte, then spewed out a black coffee with no milk
Is this the metaphor my article needs?
October 31, 2025 at 11:18 AM
I'm writing today about the broken Criminal Justice System
For a boost, I bought a coffee from the Old Bailey's canteen, which was downgraded recently to a vending machine
The machine promised an overpriced latte, then spewed out a black coffee with no milk
Is this the metaphor my article needs?
For a boost, I bought a coffee from the Old Bailey's canteen, which was downgraded recently to a vending machine
The machine promised an overpriced latte, then spewed out a black coffee with no milk
Is this the metaphor my article needs?
More trouble for HMP Chelmsford, the prison which accidentally set free a sex offender:
One of the inmates died when staff filed to spot he was a known suicide risk www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/hmp-...
One of the inmates died when staff filed to spot he was a known suicide risk www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/hmp-...
Inmate at scandal-hit jail died after staff didn't spot suicide risk
An inmate at scandal-hit HMP Chelmsford died despite being a known suicide risk
www.standard.co.uk
October 29, 2025 at 7:57 AM
More trouble for HMP Chelmsford, the prison which accidentally set free a sex offender:
One of the inmates died when staff filed to spot he was a known suicide risk www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/hmp-...
One of the inmates died when staff filed to spot he was a known suicide risk www.standard.co.uk/news/uk/hmp-...
Politicians have simplistic solutions to crime - lock everyone up, and for longer
They then have a casual indifference to what happens once the cell door is shut
This weekend's crisis over the prisoner wrongly released is symptomatic of a broken system
www.standard.co.uk/comment/sex-...
They then have a casual indifference to what happens once the cell door is shut
This weekend's crisis over the prisoner wrongly released is symptomatic of a broken system
www.standard.co.uk/comment/sex-...
Sex offender's accidental release shows the mess our prisons are in
Our prisons are failing and have been for some time. This latest episode should be a wake-up call
www.standard.co.uk
October 28, 2025 at 12:56 PM
Politicians have simplistic solutions to crime - lock everyone up, and for longer
They then have a casual indifference to what happens once the cell door is shut
This weekend's crisis over the prisoner wrongly released is symptomatic of a broken system
www.standard.co.uk/comment/sex-...
They then have a casual indifference to what happens once the cell door is shut
This weekend's crisis over the prisoner wrongly released is symptomatic of a broken system
www.standard.co.uk/comment/sex-...
You've being summonsed to court, you believe it is wrong/malicious, and a suspected abuse of the justice system
The court's answer: Come to court to argue your case, face the person who summonsed you anyway, and pay £300 for the privilege
The county courts in this country have some issues....
The court's answer: Come to court to argue your case, face the person who summonsed you anyway, and pay £300 for the privilege
The county courts in this country have some issues....
Commons Speaker made extraordinary intervention so that Labour minister didn't have to go face-to-face in court with a trans woman she says was harassing her
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/c...
www.standard.co.uk/news/crime/c...
Speaker took rare step to stop government minister facing court
Ellie Reeves gave evidence from behind a screen at Westminster Magistrates’ Court
www.standard.co.uk
October 27, 2025 at 2:43 PM
You've being summonsed to court, you believe it is wrong/malicious, and a suspected abuse of the justice system
The court's answer: Come to court to argue your case, face the person who summonsed you anyway, and pay £300 for the privilege
The county courts in this country have some issues....
The court's answer: Come to court to argue your case, face the person who summonsed you anyway, and pay £300 for the privilege
The county courts in this country have some issues....