Good morning, Europe. Sunday brings a significant change to court-reform plans in England and Wales, plus a practical check before choosing a phone or broadband provider.
Reuters morning read: Britain will drop plans for judge-only trials in less serious Crown Court cases after sustained criticism from lawyers and politicians. Reuters reports that the proposal covered cases likely to bring prison terms below three years. Other changes remain on the table, including greater sentencing powers for magistrates and removing a defendant’s automatic choice of a jury trial for some offences. The Crown Court backlog stood at nearly 81,000 cases at the end of June.
Read more: Reuters: Britain scraps plans to curb jury trials after backlash
Useful this morning: Moving house, renewing a contract, or tired of a patchy signal? Ofcom’s postcode checker compares predicted mobile coverage by provider and shows the availability of standard, superfast, and ultrafast broadband. Treat the figures as a planning guide rather than a guarantee—buildings, terrain, congestion, and individual properties can affect real-world service.
Read more: Ofcom: Broadband and mobile coverage checker
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