Radical changes, including a move to an inquisitorial civil system and a two-track Crown court, need to be considered as the state withdraws funding from the system, the lord chief justice said last night.

In a speech called 'Reshaping Justice' at an event to launch pressure group Justice's 2014-16 strategy, Lord Thomas said the cutting of at least a third of 2010 expenditure is 'very very different' from what has happened before - and likely to be a permanent state of affairs.