Source · Select Committees · Public Accounts Committee
Recommendation 8
8
Accepted
Ministry of Justice introduced various measures to address the Crown Court backlog.
Conclusion
MoJ has previously introduced measures to address the backlog, including those within the 2021 Criminal Justice Action Plan.17 MoJ described current work to manage the Crown Court caseload, including: • Increasing the number of sitting days to 108,500 this year. • Supporting the physical capacity of the courts estate by maintaining Nightingale courts. • Running recruitment rounds for circuit judges and recorders. • Increasing magistrates’ sentencing powers from six months to 12 months.18
Government Response Summary
The government affirms its commitment to tackling the Crown Court backlog, outlining a range of measures including funding 110,000 Crown Court sitting days for 2025-26 (an increase from the previous year), increased court maintenance, ongoing judicial recruitment, and exploring legal aid funding. It also notes that demand requires substantial reform and awaits the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts' recommendations.
Government Response
Accepted
HM Government
Accepted
1.1 The government agrees with the Committee’s recommendation. Recommendation implemented: March 2025 1.2 The Ministry of Justice (MoJ) is committed to bearing down on the Crown Court backlog and is delivering a wide range of work to achieve this: • Having increased magistrates’ court sentencing powers from 6 to 12 months for a single triable-either way offence; • Funding 110,000 Crown Court sitting days in 2025-26, the highest allocation ever provided and 4,000 more than originally allocated the previous financial year; • Boosting court maintenance funding to £148.5 million, the highest figure spent on maintenance and capital works in 10 years; • Ongoing judicial recruitment for 34 Circuit Judges, including 19 in Crime and up to 70 Recorders. Further recruitment will launch in 2025-26 for 55 Circuit Judges, including 45 in Crime. • Increasing criminal legal aid solicitors funding by £92 million per annum, subject to consultation; • Working with cross-system partners through the judiciary-led Criminal Courts Improvement Group to drive efficiencies across the criminal justice system (CJS); • Trialling a ‘Case Coordinator’ role in ten Crown Courts, aiming to improving adherence to the Better Case Management principles; • Funding vital victim and witness support services – over 2022-2025, the MoJ spent at least £460 million on victim support services, including on dedicated services for victims of domestic abuse and sexual violence. 1.3 However, demand on the courts is now so great that these actions alone are not enough to reduce the outstanding caseload. 1.4 The system requires substantial reform, and the MoJ looks forward to receiving the Independent Review of the Criminal Courts’ recommendations on longer-term structural reform options in Spring 2025.