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Home Affairs have been pressed on court delays during a public scrutiny hearing, where the Committee President acknowledged there were multiple factors contributing towards long waiting times for some defendants.
The questions arose after one of the Magistrates, Judge Graeme McKerrell demanded answers from the Chief of Police during a recent court hearing over a potential dispute between Police and Customs.
The potential dispute, which Patrick Rice has since refuted, was said to be causing delays in the court system. Criticism has also been levelled at the amount of time it is taking for trials and hearings to come to conclusions, with delays being incurred when hearings have to be adjourned.
Responding to questions on the matter at the scrutiny hearing last Thursday, Adrian Lewis, the Chief Secretary for Home Affairs, said: "there are multiple factors at play here, but is there a primary cause of delays? We don't know yet. Changes in pleas at the last minute - where someone changes from a Not Guilty plea to a Guilty plea - are one area for concern."
Mr Lewis said work was being done between Law Enforcement, St James' Chambers, Lawyers and other parties involved to work together on a solution.
"One question being asked at the moment is whether we need a full review into the system," he added.
"Either way, it is being treated as a matter of priority."
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