Justice, we are often told, is blind. But that does not mean that it should not be seen to be done by the rest of us. The fact that Bradford lawyers have spoken out at the appalling delays in getting criminal cases into court is evidence of their frustration with the state of the judicial system in the district.

A shortage of lawyers working in the Crown Prosecution Service has been blamed for a backlog of cases building up due to lack of administration and paperwork.

The CPS does handle 75,000 cases each year across the region but sheer volume is no excuse for delayed cases and - in some instances - prosecutions simply being abandoned.

Concern about crime is very high on the agenda of most people and the police are constantly battling not only to bring crooks to justice but also to alleviate the fear of crime and to make Bradford a safer place to live, work and relax.

But the work of the police and the efforts of vigilant, law-abiding citizens must seem frustratingly undone when criminal cases don't even make it to the court rooms.

Victims of crime often need the closure of a completed court case to be able to continue their lives.

And. because justice is all about balance, those who are accused of wrongdoing yet who proclaim their innocence should be allowed their day in court at the earliest opportunity to have the chance to clear their names.

The CPS now says that it is better staffed and the backlog should start to diminish. It is to be hoped that justice will now be swifter in the district.