Court Delays Persist as Ministry of Justice Struggles to Meet Caseload Goals
The National Audit Office (NAO) has declared that the Government’s objective to reduce the backlog in crown court cases is now out of reach. The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) had aimed to decrease the number of outstanding cases to 53,000 by March 2025, but according to the NAO, this target is unlikely to be achieved. Instead, estimates suggest the figure will be closer to 64,000.
Delays have already forced some trials set for this week to be postponed until 2026. More than 25% of crown court cases have been waiting over a year to be heard, further exacerbating the trauma experienced by victims awaiting justice. The backlog, currently standing at 67,492 cases as of March, is higher than it was a year ago despite the Government’s £477 million allocation to help tackle it as part of a 2021 spending review.
One major obstacle to reducing the backlog, according to the report, is overcrowding in prisons, while deteriorating court infrastructure has further compounded issues. The MoJ has reported that half of all crown courtrooms could face sudden closure due to persistent issues like leaks and heating failures.
The crisis has drawn pointed criticism from legal experts. Tana Adkin KC of the Criminal Bar Association highlighted the systemic failures laid bare by the report and reiterated longstanding calls for strategic investment. Sam Townend KC, representing the Bar Council, warned that without sufficient personnel, the justice system risks collapse, urging the Government to allocate necessary resources to ensure each case has proper legal representation.
The Law Society echoed these concerns, pointing to years of underfunding as a root cause of shortages in judges, lawyers, and crumbling facilities. Nick Emmerson, its president, stressed the urgency for meaningful investment across the system to guarantee timely justice.
In response, a Ministry of Justice spokesperson stated that crown courts conducted over 107,000 sitting days last year, the highest in seven years. The Government is working on solutions, including expanded use of Nightingale courts, remote hearings, and a significant expansion of prison capacity to accommodate the increased caseload.
