Leveson review welcomed, but victims still face years of delays
“There is no credible alternative – but even this may fall short of what’s truly needed,” says Baroness Newlove as she calls for greater investment in court capacity and victim support.
The criminal courts are facing a severe backlog crisis, with tens of thousands of victims left waiting years for justice. In response, former judge Sir Brian Leveson was commissioned by the Lord Chancellor to propose reforms to reduce the growing caseload.
The resulting Leveson Review sets out a series of radical recommendations aimed at tackling delays in the criminal courts and restoring public confidence in the justice system.
While the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, has welcomed the Review’s bold approach and clear recognition of the crisis, she expressed concern that some proposals – such as increased sentence discounts and the wider use of out-of-court disposals – may be perceived by victims as weakening justice.
Reacting to the Review, Baroness Newlove said such proposals will “feel like justice diluted once again” for many victims. However, she acknowledged that the reforms are essential given the scale of the challenge.
“There is no credible alternative, but even this may fall short of what’s truly needed,” she said.
Baroness Newlove is urging the Government to show even greater ambition in its response. She called for sustained, long-term investment and a clear plan to expand court capacity. She also warned that without proper support, victims may disengage from the justice process altogether.
She cautioned that change will take time and warned that tens of thousands of victims will remain waiting. These victims, she said, must be properly supported to prevent disengagement – and victim services must be prioritised in forthcoming spending decisions.
The Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales, Baroness Newlove, said:
“Our criminal courts are in crisis. This is an emergency. We are failing victims, and we have been for some time.
“In 2019, as my previous term as Victims’ Commissioner came to a close, I warned of the growing Crown Court backlog. At that time, the open caseload stood at around 33,000. Now projections suggest it could reach 105,000 cases by 2029. To stand by and do nothing to tackle this would be a dereliction of duty. Behind every number is a victim, asked to wait years for justice – and for many, justice that never comes.
“This Review rightly recognises the scale of the challenge. It sets out bold, radical proposals to overhaul our criminal courts and bring them back from the brink, and deliver swifter justice for victims. I welcome this, though not without reservation. For many victims, plans to increase sentence discounts for guilty pleas and expand out-of-court disposals will feel like justice being diluted once again.
“The truth is nothing short of bold reform will fix a system this badly broken. No amount of efficiency tweaks can deliver what is needed. The system has been hollowed out for too long. What the Leveson Review proposes is radical – but it is also necessary. There is no credible alternative, but even this may fall short of what’s truly needed.
“The Government must now match the scale of the challenge with a bold response. Above all, these reforms must be properly funded – through sustained, long-term investment. That means not only reshaping the courts, but expanding sitting day capacity, building resilience across the system, and ensuring reform delivers real results for victims and for justice.
“Change will not be easy, and relief will not come overnight. Even with immediate action, tens of thousands of victims will remain in limbo. As we press forward with reform, the Government has a moral duty to ensure victims get the services they need to stay engaged in the pursuit of justice.
“Yet the reality is stark: the very services designed to support victims are under intolerable pressure. Demand is rising, resources are stretched thin, and providers are grappling with cuts and soaring costs. Some now stand on the brink of collapse. These services are a lifeline. The government must recognise this as they consider their spending plans for the next three years. Victims should not have to shoulder the burden of a backlog not of their making.
“Delay is not just an administrative failing. It has devastating human consequences. Victims’ lives are left in limbo. This Review – and my own research – lay clear the emotional toll: lives disrupted, work and family strained, mental health eroded. It is no surprise that some victims disengage altogether.
“Victims need a justice system that works – not in theory, but in practice. This Review offers the best chance in a generation to fix it. The Government must seize that opportunity without delay.”
In her Justice Delayed report published in March 2025, nearly half of victims (48%) reported having their trial date rescheduled at least once, with many facing multiple adjournments – sometimes on the day of the trial itself. Victims described being unable to work, study or move on with their lives as cases dragged on for months or even years.
The emotional and psychological impact of the delays was stark. Victims spoke of severe mental and physical strain, with some turning to alcohol, drugs or self-harm to cope with the uncertainty and stress. A rising number reported that their trials had been postponed not once or twice, but three times or more – compounding trauma and further eroding confidence in the justice system.
At the same time, victim support services are under increasing pressure. Organisations report unsustainable caseloads, rising staff burnout and a growing risk of closure. The Ministry of Justice’s 2025–26 funding settlement, announced in late 2024, froze funding for domestic abuse and sexual violence services at 2024–25 levels – effectively a real-terms cut in light of inflation and rising demand.
In addition, the Ministry imposed a 4.2% reduction in core funding for Police and Crime Commissioners, who commission many local victim support services. These combined cuts have forced many services to scale back support just as demand reaches record highs.
In December 2024, a coalition of victims’ and women’s sector leaders warned the Prime Minister that unless action was taken, services would face “no choice” but to reduce staff, close waiting lists and cut vital support for survivors of gender-based violence.
Baroness Newlove has made clear that meaningful reform of the criminal courts cannot succeed without sustained investment in the services victims rely on. “Victims should not have to shoulder the burden of a backlog not of their making,” she said.