Crown courts at ‘breaking point’ as backlog reaches new record high
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Justice is delayed with staggering backlog of court cases
- Crown court backlogs reached a new record high in March, with 76,957 open cases awaiting hearing, an 11 per cent increase from the previous year.
- A minister warned that the current rate of increase could see the backlog reach 100,000 outstanding criminal cases by 2028, indicating the system is at breaking point.
- The extensive delays mean some trials are now being listed as far out as 2029, leaving victims and defendants waiting years for justice.
- Sir Brian Leveson is set to publish a report recommending once-in-a-generation reforms, including expanded powers for magistrates and the introduction of intermediate courts.
- While the Justice Secretary announced an increase in judicial sitting days, the Law Society argues that only sustained investment across the justice sector, rather than new court structures, will effectively tackle the backlog.