16 May 2021
The Crown Court backlog now stands at 57,000 cases, the latest Ministry of Justice (MoJ) figures
Data published this week recorded 57,894 Crown Court and 463,215 magistrates’ court cases outstanding, as of 25 April.
For context, the outstanding Crown Court caseload was 39,000 prior to lockdown in March 2020.
Law Society president I Stephanie Boyce said: ‘Some trials are being listed for 2023 with the pandemic having exacerbated the effect of decades of underfunding and cuts on the criminal courts.
‘The government must maximise the existing court capacity as we emerge from lockdown and boost capacity through many more Nightingale courts to increase the number of jury trials that can take place. Talk of ensuring the timely administration of justice must be backed up by investment in the criminal justice system.’
