In order to build a "fair, effective and swift criminal justice system which commands the support and confidence of the public", the Criminal Courts (Reform) Bill will include measures to reform the criminal justice system and modernise the criminal courts, in response to the forthcoming report from Lord Justice Auld.

It is expected that the Auld report will propose a new middle tier of court, with a hybrid bench of judges and magistrates to deal with many of the cases which presently go to jury trial.

The bill, which will be brought forward in draft form only, could see courts sitting 24 hours a day to speed up the judicial process.

It has also been suggested that cases such as council tax, TV licence and road tax offences should be removed from the criminal justice system, while complex financial cases could be dealt with by a regulatory body instead of the courts.