More victims of crime are facing agonising waits for justice as the number of cases waiting to be heard hit a new record high, figures show.
The Crown Court backlog hit a staggering 73,015 in September, the Ministry of Justice said.
The caseload increased 3% on the previous quarter (71,042 cases), 10% on the previous year (66,426 cases) and has close to doubled since the end of 2019 (38,016 cases).
Justice chiefs have this morning revealed they will carry out an urgent review into the case for new “intermediate courts” where cases too serious for magistrates’ courts but not serious enough for the Crown Court could be heard by a judge, flanked by magistrates.
Sir Brian Leveson will also be asked to consider whether Magistrates should be empowered to look at more cases, freeing up capacity in the Crown Court to consider the more complex, serious crimes.
Lord Chancellor and Justice Secretary, Shabana Mahmood, said: “The scale of the Crown Court crisis inherited by this Government is unprecedented. Despite the efforts of judges, lawyers and court staff, we simply cannot continue with the status quo.
“To deliver the Government’s bold Plan for Change and make our streets safer, we require once-in-a-generation reform of a courts system stretched to breaking point.
“In many cases, victims are waiting years to see their perpetrator put before a judge, and we know for many victims, justice delayed is as good as justice denied.
“We owe it to victims to find bold, innovative approaches that will speed up justice, deliver safer streets and send a clear message to criminals that they will quickly face the consequences of their actions.
Ministers had earlier hinted jury trials could be scrapped in some cases amid efforts considered to cut the backlog.
Newly appointed justice minister Sarah Sackman told reporters: “I’ve been here for eight days, and in that eight days it’s become apparent to me that there is nothing short of a crisis in the crown court system.
“The crown court caseload is at record levels, those levels are rising and if we don’t do anything about it we’ll soon be in the territory of a caseload backlog of six figures.
The “reality” of measures already taken is that this is “barely touching the sides and what’s actually needed is fundamental reform”, she said, adding: “We’ve asked Sir Brian to consider all options.”
Sir Brian is expected to present his findings in the spring, around the same time as ministers are due to consider conclusions from former justice secretary David Gauke’s sentencing review.
This is a breaking story. More to follow.
