Such an application, however, appeared to cut across a defendant's right to silence and the right against self-incrimination.

But judge-alone trials highlight the need to balance the aims of bringing criminals to book and ensuring a defendant's right to a fair trial.

Nobody wants the right to jury trial to be eroded but this measure retains a defendant's right to choose a crown court trial.

It would be profoundly unfair to hamper a defendant's right to have individual representation of a barrister of their choice and treat all defendants as a job lot.

Toolkits had been produced on how to treat vulnerable witnesses fairly and to get the best from them, without undermining the defendant's right to a fair trial.