Nicki Arch, a former subpostmaster acquitted of theft in one of the most high-profile cases linked to the Post Office IT scandal, has strongly criticized proposals by Justice Secretary David Lammy to reduce the number of jury trials in crown courts. Arch, who faced charges relating to a £24,000 shortfall allegedly caused by the faulty Horizon computer system, said the reforms risk injustice and urged the government to abandon the plans.

Arch was charged with theft and fraud after discrepancies appeared in the Horizon system at the Chalford Hill branch she managed near Stroud, Gloucestershire. The software error falsely indicated missing funds shortly after the system’s introduction in 2000. Following accusations and an investigation, Arch was dismissed from her post and ultimately prosecuted in 2002. She was acquitted by a jury at Bristol Crown Court with an eleven to one majority verdict.

Reflecting on her experience, Arch said she was “totally convinced” that without a jury trial she would have been convicted and imprisoned. Her solicitor had warned her prior to trial that, due to limited disclosure from the Post Office and insufficient evidence to prove her innocence, conviction was likely. The ordeal resulted in the loss of the family business, sale of their home, and severe personal distress.

Lammy’s proposals, outlined in the Courts and Tribunals Bill, aim to introduce a bench division in crown courts, where a judge alone would hear less serious cases carrying sentences of up to three years. Additionally, magistrates’ courts would handle more cases and have their sentencing powers increased to up to two years. The government argues these measures are necessary to address a backlog exceeding 80,000 cases in crown courts and to expedite justice for victims.

However, critics warn the reforms may undermine fairness. Data published by Administrative Data Research UK in 2024 reveals that magistrates’ courts convict a higher proportion of theft cases compared to jury trials—71 percent versus 56 percent—raising concerns about increased risks of wrongful convictions. A recent parliamentary justice committee report also found no solid evidence that reducing jury trials would effectively reduce court delays.

Arch described the changes as a “quick fix” driven by cost-saving motives at the expense of justice. She argued that removing juries would eliminate the presence of impartial members of the public who bring real-world perspectives to court proceedings and accused the justice secretary of endangering the integrity of the legal system. “Anybody with the right mind of how justice works would not consider getting rid of the independent people in the room,” she said.

The Horizon scandal has had wide-reaching consequences. Between 1999 and 2015, the Post Office prosecuted more than 900 subpostmasters based on flawed Horizon data. The issues were only publicly acknowledged following a 2019 High Court case that led to the quashing of hundreds of convictions.

A Ministry of Justice spokesperson defended the reforms, emphasizing the urgent need to prevent collapse in the crown courts and noting that the majority of criminal cases are already handled by magistrates without juries. The spokesperson stressed that failing to act would result in longer waits for victims seeking justice.