Statement – Crown Court backlog hits another record high
Baroness Newlove: "No victim should be expected to wait years before their case gets to court. As we can see from the victim attrition statistics, justice delayed all too often is becoming justice denied."
The Crown Court statistics released today revealed another jump in the courts backlog – it now stands at 67,573, which is a new record.
This marks a 1% increase from the last quarter ending September 2023 (66,578), a 65% increase from the period pre-pandemic (end of March 2020 – 40,891), and a 98% increase from end of June 2019 (34,124), the end of Baroness Newlove’s last term as Victims’ Commissioner.
The number of cases outstanding for over a year in the Crown Court also continues to increase. At the end of December 2023, 18,045 cases in the Crown Court had been open for over a year (27% of all outstanding cases). This is the highest number of cases outstanding for over a year in the Crown Court since this data was first collected in 2014.
Timeliness (the duration between a case being received and completed at the Crown Court) also remains above pre-pandemic levels for all offences (82% higher than at the end of March 2020 and 84% higher than at the end of June 2019).
Responding to the latest data on the Crown Court backlog, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:
“67,573 – that’s the number of outstanding cases currently waiting to get to trial in the Crown Court. For the third consecutive quarter, it has climbed to an all-time high. This is a very worrying trend.
“The result is victims facing an unacceptable wait of months or years for justice and closure. Over a quarter of all cases (27%) are now outstanding for over a year leaving victims unable to move on with their lives.
“Put in perspective, the average rape case now takes 393 days to complete once it reaches the Crown Court – a new record. Up on last quarter and 52% higher than pre-pandemic levels. For violent offences, the average wait is now 59% higher. Across the board – whatever the crime type – victims are suffering wholly unreasonable delay.
“As court wait times lengthen, frontline victim services also face increasing pressure. Victims remain in the system longer, leading to unsustainable caseloads and ultimately, a reduction in the critical support they need. I fear victim services and the staff who support victims on a daily basis are having to carry the burden of court delays.
“These delays will severely test victims’ resolve and we cannot be surprised if increasing numbers decide they are unable to stay the course. Indeed, the statistics bear this out: 14% of victims withdrew after the defendant was charged in the most recent quarter. With an additional 26% of cases adjourned on the day of trial, the system is further testing victims’ already strained resilience.
“Previously, I was given to understand the backlog was as a result of a surge in referrals by police and prosecutors. However, the statistics show the volume of new cases is now down 4%, and yet the backlog continues to climb. Disposals (completed cases) are also down 1% over the same period. This suggests deeper systemic issues.
“No victim should be expected to wait years before their case gets to court. As we can see from the victim attrition statistics, justice delayed all too often is becoming justice denied.”
Contact information
Thomas Cracknell
Head of Communications
07562431727
thomas.cracknell@victimscommissioner.org.uk